Pasok na sa darating na Tokyo Olympics ang Filipina golfer na si Yuka Saso pagkaraan niyang umangat at pumasok sa top 10 ng Women's World Golf Rankings kasunod ng kanyang naging tagumpay sa katatapos na US Women’s Open.
Mula sa dating kinalalagyang ika-40 puwesto, umangat ang 19-anyos na si Saso sa No. 9 spot upang makakuha ng virtual slot sa Tokyo Games.
Ang mga nasa top 60 sa rankings kapwa sa men's at women's divisions ay qualified sa darating na Summer Games.
"The Olympic field is restricted to 60 players for each of the men’s and women’s competitions. The IGF will utilise the official world golf rankings to create the Olympic Golf Rankings as a method of determining eligibility. The top-15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top-15," ayon sa International Golf Federation.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
Ang panalo ni Saso sa US Women's Open ay may katumbas na 100 puntos na nagtaas sa kanyang ranking points sa 193.29 mula sa 33 events.
Kapag pormal ng nakumpirma at ianunsiyo ang kanyang "qualification", si Saso rin ang magiging unang Filipinong golfer na nagkamit ng Olympic berth.
Marivic Awitan
