8 atleta ang inaasahan ni Garcia na makakasama sa Rio Olympics

MANILA, Philippines – Walong atleta ang prediksyon ni PSC chairman Richie Garcia na maaa-ring kumatawan sa bansa para sa 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Ngunit umaasa si Garcia na madadagdagan pa ito sa paglahok ng mga Filipino athlete sa mga qualifying competitions.

Noong 2012 London Olympics, kabuuang 11 atleta ang kumatawan sa bansa, kabilang ang pitong lalake at sumabak sa walong sports events.

Huling nakakuha ang bansa ng Olympic medal noong 1996 Atlanta Games nang manalo si boxer Onyok Velasco ng silver medal.

Simula nang lumahok sa Olympic Games noong 1924 ay siyam na medalya pa lamang ang nasisikwat ng bansa.

Ito ay dalawang silver at pitong bronze medals, habang ang huling apat na medalya ay mula sa boxing.

“Right now, my estimate is eight athletes will make it to Rio but it’s a conservative estimate,” sabi ni Garcia matapos dumalo sa 20th Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) General Assembly sa Washington, D. C. “So far, we’ve qualified only Eric Cray in the 400 meter hurdles. There will be two more from athletics and two from swimming. Weightlifting could bring in two.  The latest report is two of our weightlifters are just five kilos short of the qualifying standard. In shooting, I’m told three shooters have advanced to the next round of qualifying. We also have candidates from taekwondo, boxing and BMX cycling.”