Obiena provides momentum for Philippine sports

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Noli Eala will rely on Filipino world-beaters like Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, world champion gymnast Caloy Yulo and World  Athletics Championships bronze winner EJ Obiena as the government agency lures the private sector for bigger funding and help sustain the emergence of new sporting heroes.

“This is exactly the kind of momentum we need in Philippine sports,” said Eala during a courtesy call by Obiena at the PSC headquarters yesterday. “They will provide us with an impetus to really look for more support for Philippine sports.

“These are the people that are now faces of Philippine sports that I think we should rally around including the private sector,” he added.

Eala also mentioned US Open Juniors singles champion Alex Eala, Fil-Canadian Tokyo Olympics swimming bronze medalist Kayla Sanchez, World Games karate gold medalist Junna Tsukii, the world class Filipino boxers as the other rallying points to attract more support.

Eala stressed that while government is fully supporting these super athletes, they still would need additional help.

“This is where the private sector comes in. Of course, the government is fully behind them,” said Eala.

Eala also said he has talked to Obiena, who was accompanied by parents Jeannette and Emerson Obiena and German girlfriend Caroline Joyeaux, on the possibility of transferring his technical knowledge to the local coaches and athletes.

“We also asked him (Obiena) what kind of training he is doing and how we can transfer technology here in the Philippines including some opportunities for our other athletes to be with him,” said Eala.

Obiena is in the country for the first time since the 2019 SEA Games, and will use his three-week vacation as the final break before he launches his bid to qualify to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“(Coach) Vitaly (Petrov) said this is my last time I’ll be going here or spending a time off from my sport before Paris because next year, there’s going to be a lot of championships for me,” he said.

Among the events that Obiena has lined up for next year are the Asian Indoors, Asian Games, Asian Championships, Southeast Asian Games and World Championships.