POC wants Yulo in Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines — World champion gymnast Carlos Yulo has thumbed down the suggestion of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino for him to skip the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium and vie in the Hangzhou Asian Games in September instead.

“I thought it would work as Bambol (POC president Abraham Tolentino) really wants Carlos to join the Asian Games but Carlos said it’s very important to attend Antwerp,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion Norton yesterday told The STAR.

Tolentino aired the proposal that Yulo see action in Hangzhou and scratch Antwerp off his schedule since there would still be other qualifying meets for the Paris Games early next year.

“All the members of the POC general assembly are begging for gymnastics to consider (Yulo) playing in the Asian Games,” said Tolentino, who has already included Yulo’s name in the 426-strong delegation to Hangzhou.

“We have already asked them to look for other Olympic qualifying events. Belgium is just the first Olympic qualifying event and there are many [qualifying events].”

Yulo and his Japanese coach Munehiro Kugimiya insisted they don’t want to leave anything to chance.

“Bambol said there is another one in 2024 but Carlos and coach Mune (Kugimiya) do not want to miss Antwerp because if he misses it, and he does not do well in the next World Championships, he is a goner (for Paris). He wants to play it safe,” said Carrion-Norton.