Olympics-bound Ilongga boxer calls for help after money woes surface

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Ilongga boxer Irish Magno, who already qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, recently posted a lengthy message on social media and spoke about their delayed athletes’ allowances for almost two months now.

Currently undergoing intensive training in preparation for the Olympics, the native of Janiuay, Iloilo bared that it has been two months since last they received allowance from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

“Masakit lang isipin lalo na’t ikaw lang inaasahan nila. Two months na walang allowance. Iyan lang inaasahan naming mga atleta. Sana magkaroon na,” Magno posted on her Facebook account.

Magno also shared that it’s been a tough journey for the past two months, training hard while not receiving a single peso. She also added that it’s hard to imagine the status of her family especially that they’re relying partly on her money from the PSC.

“Ang hirap magfocus para sa paghahanda ko sa Olympics kung alam mong ‘yung pamilya mo sa probinsya halos walang makain,” Magno added.

As of now, the PSC is yet to release a statement regarding Magno’s claims about their delayed allowances.

The Ilongga slugger was the fourth athlete to qualify for the most prestigious sporting event after reigning supreme during the 2020 Asia and Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifiers women’s flyweight.