Suarez Olympic fate still hangs in the air

MANILA, Philippines - No news is not good news for boxer Charly Suarez as he awaits the decision from the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) if he deserves a slot to the coming London Olympics.

Suarez failed to earn an outright slot to the London Games set July 27 to Aug. 12 after he failed to win the gold medal in the last Asian qualifying tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan last April.

Suarez absorbed a heartbreaking 15-11 loss to China’s Qiang Liu in the lightweight finals. It was an unpopular decision and even non-Filipinos among the crowd showed their displeasure.

The Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines under Ricky Vargas said Suarez deserves to be in London, and wrote the AIBA seeking a wild card slot for the boxer.

The Philippine Olympic Committee headed by Jose Cojuangco wrote its own letter of appeal as well as Filipino boxing superstar and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao.

But time is running out on Suarez as AIBA officials sit on the request. The deadline for the forming of the final delegation for all competing countries in London is on July 9.

“We’re still hoping but no news until now is not a good sign,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson told The STAR in a text message yesterday afternoon.

Already bound for London are tracksters Marestella Torres and Rene Herrera, swimmers Jasmine Alkhaldi and Jessie Lacuña, boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, BMX rider Daniel Caluag, judoka Tomohiko Hoshina, shooter Brian Rosario and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

Archers Mark Javier and Rachel Cabral also passed the grade during last week’s World Archery Championships in Utah, but Lopez said he’s still awaiting final word from the international federation.

A sendoff for the Filipino athletes bound for London was held last night at Blue Leaf of the McKinley Hills Village. 

Even if Suarez makes it, the Philippines will not match the number of athletes it sent to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There were 15 athletes in that delegation.

Manny Lopez, the Phl chef-de-mission to London and former president of ABAP, remained positive that Suarez will be given the wild card slot.

“The (AIBA) tripartite committee will deliberate on issues this week,” said Lopez yesterday, hoping that the Filipino boxer will get the nod and join Barriga in London.

It was under Lopez’ watch, including his father, former Manila Mayor Mel Lopez, that the Philippines won medals in the Olympics, two of them courtesy of the Velasco brothers, Roel and Onyok.

Lopez was also chef-de-mission of the Philippine team to the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games where boxers Elias Recaido, Romeo Brin and Onyok Velasco won the gold.

Pacquiao carried the flag in the Olympic opener in Beijing. Lopez, however, said they’re not looking at anyone outside the delegation to do the honor in London.

“Not until the delegation is finalized will we name our flag bearer. It will also depend on the schedule of our athletes. Carrying the flag for several hours in the opening ceremony is not easy. Mabigat,” Lopez said.

“But it’s not Pacquiao this time,” he added.