IBILANG ang wrestling sa sports na makalalahok sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Kumpiyansa si Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) president Alvin Aguilar na makalulusot ang atletang Pinoy sa pagsabak sa apat na Olympic qualifying ngayong taon.

“We are very confident that we have the talents to make it all the way to the Tokyo Olympics,” pahayag ni Aguilar sa kanyang pagbisita sa 54th “Usapang Sports” ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) nitong Huwebes sa National Press Club sa Intramuros, Manila.

Kabilang sa dadaanan ng Pinoy wrestling ang dalawang major tournament na gaganapin sa bansa.

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“It’s about time we have another Filipino wrestler in the Olympics. If I remember it right, the last time nagkaroon tayo ng Filipino wrestler sa Olympics was in the 1980s pa,” explained Aguilar.

Pambato ni Aguilar para sa Tokyo Games sina dating Jiu-Jitsu world champion May Masuda at SEA Games gold medalists Jason Baucas at Noel Norada.

Nakalinyang ganapin ang Nationals 2020 sa Marso 7-8 sa Festival Mall sa Alabang; first Asian Grappling Championships sa April 2-5; ang Asian Championships Under-23 sa July at Southeast Asia Championships sa November.

“After the SEA Games, madami tayong activities. We have the WAP Nationals 2020 at Festival Mall. This is the first time na isama-sama lahat ng events under wrestling – freestyle, Greco-Roman, women, grappling, kurash and others,” sambit ni Aguilar sa lingguhang sports program na itinataguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR, Community Basketball Association at HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.

“Sa Asian Grappling , more than 30 countries are participating. Sa Under-23 naman, parang ito na yung world championships dahil sasali yun mga talagang magagaling,” ayon kay Aguilar.

“We’re very happy that they choose the Philippines to host these events dahil maganda naman tayo magpa-takbo ng mga tournaments . We’re very hospitable at fair tayo,” aniya.