Ramon Fernandez plans to continue National team training

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Philippine Sports Commission (POC) OIC Ramon Fernandez is preparing the final plans for the resumption of the Philippine National Team training heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

After the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the practices for both basketball and football, OIC Fernandez quickly worked to let the PH athletes resume where they left-off.

Fernandez and the POC are working hand-in-hand with chef de mission Nonong Araneta in coordinating the athletes who are Tokyo-bound and those who will have to join in several qualifiers to book a ticket to the Olympics.

“We plan to meet with POC and CDM Nonong Araneta to discuss the resumption of training on the national team, especially the Olympic hopefuls,” said the PBA legend.

Those who are already qualified for Tokyo are boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and pole-vaulter EJ Obiena.

Meanwhile, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 squad, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez, karateka Junna Tsukii, and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe still have to participate in several qualifiers to book their ticket to the Olympics.

“We shall await more information and instructions from the IATF on the joint working group between GAB, DOH and PSC so we can proceed more efficiently and effectively,” added Fernandez.