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Monday, July 28, 2008

RP taekwondo jins vow to get first Olympic gold

By Jelly F. Musico


MANILA (PNA) -– Taekwondo jins Tshomlee Go and Antonette Rivero have promised to do their best to get the country’s first ever Olympic gold in Beijing Games set Aug. 8-24.
Go and Rivero gave their word to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez who visited the two Olympic qualifiers while training in Seoul, South Korea.
”I’m expecting them to win gold in London in 2012 but these two players, specially Antonette, said they will do it in Beijing,” Ramirez related to the media during a press briefing on Monday afternoon at his PSC board room.


”The way I saw them in training, I think we have a very good chance of winning our first Olympic gold. They are really focused and, who knows, this might be the good Olympic year for our country,” Ramirez said.


Ramirez arrived last Sunday from Seoul and Beijing where he visited and gave support to the Filipino athletes preparing for the most prestigious sports competition.
”We assess, evaluate and give support to the Olympic-bound athletes not only here but those training abroad and they are very happy that I personally visited them,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez assured the government has not been remiss in its duty to give all the support needed by the 15 Beijing-bound Filipino athletes.


Aside from Go and Rivero, other athletes bound for the Olympics are swimmers Miguel Molina, Daniel Coakley, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo and Christel Simms; divers Shiela Mae Perez and Ryan Rexel Fabriga; boxer Harry Tañamor; archer Mark Javier; weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz; and long jumpers Henry Dagmil and Marestella Torres.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will attend the opening ceremonies along with top government officials including Senate committee on sports chairman Gringo Honasan and his House counterpart Cesar Jalosjos.


”It will mark the first time that the President and sports committee heads of both Senate and House of Representatives will personally cheer and give inspiration for the athletes,” Ramirez said.


President Arroyo recently appointed Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao to be the Team Philippines’ flag-bearer and special envoy to the Beijing Games.


The Philippines has not won Olympic gold since it joined the event in 1924. The country’s highest achievements were two silvers won by boxers Anthony Villanueva in 1964 Tokyo Games and Mansueto Velasco in 1996 Atlanta Olympics. (PNA)


Blog Credits: Positive News Media

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