TUMITIBAY ang kampanya nina skateboarders Margielyn Didal at Christiana Means ng Team Go For Gold Philippines para makakwalipika sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Nakalinyang lumahok sa Olympic qualifying ang dalawa at sa nakalipas na Street League Skateboarding (SLS) World Championship sa Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, kapwa umusad sa semifinals ang dalawang pambato ng bansa.
Ang torneo ang panimulang programa para sa mga atletang nagnanais na makakuha ng mahalagang puntos para makausad sa Olympics.
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“Congratulations to both Christiana and Margie for making the semifinals in this prestigious tournament. Although we were not able to advance further, this is an important step in Olympic qualifying,” pahayag ni Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.
Tinanghal din ang dalawa na unang Pinay na nakaabot sa pinakamataas na antas ng kompetisyon sa World stage. Kabuuang 54 skateboarders ang sumabak sa kompetisyon.
Pumuwesto si Didal, nakilala sa mundo ng sports nang magwagi ng gintong medalya sa Jakarta Asian Games sa nakalipas na taon, sa 14th sa overall at sa semifinals, kumana siya ng 20 puntos, habang ang Oregon-based na si Means ay nasa ika-22 na may 11.8 puntos.
``We know that with the right exposure and support, our athletes can improve further and we are happy to journey with them in their quest for gold,’’ sambit ni Go, vice president ng Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp.,ang kompanya na nangangasiwa sa Go For Gold Program.
Sa World semis, walong players lang ang umusad sa finals, sa pangunguna nina Leticia Bufonib ng Brazil at Americans Mariah Duran at Lacey Baker. Ang magwawagi rito ay mapapalaban sa Super Crown Final of the first world qualifying meet for next year’s Olympics.
``Margie and Tiana may have missed the finals, but they managed to place good in the rankings,’’ pahayag ni Monty Mendigoria, pangulo ng Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines.
Bukod sa PH skateboarding team, suportado rin ng Go For Gold ang National athletes mula sa triathlon, cycling, sepak takraw, dragonboat at wrestling.
“This is just the first ranking competition of world skateboarding and the reason why our athletes competed was to gain points and establish their world ranking in order to earn a slot in the Olympics,” sambit ni Mendigoria
