‘It Will Be Very Difficult’: Tolentino Sizes Up Team Philippines’ Dakar Challenge

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Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino toured the venues in Dakar and came away with a blunt message for Team Philippines. The Philippine Olympic Committee president is tempering expectations of a podium finish for the nine-athlete squad at the Youth Olympic Games.

Tolentino checked the fields of play and the Athletes’ Village in Diamniadio, about 40 kilometers from the capital. He arrived Wednesday, Oct. 28, with POC secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan. The Games run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13.

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Tolentino (center), Secretary-General Atty. Wharton Chan (third from left), and Chef de Mission Rocky Samson (right) welcome the first batch of Filipino athletes and coaches upon their arrival at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Senegal on Thursday night. [POC Media Pool]

Tolentino Warns of Tough Rivals

“They’re big and they look strong,” said Tolentino of the early bird participants from the Americas and Europe. “It will be very difficult,” he added.

The Philippines has won two medals in the Youth Olympics. Luis Gabriel Moreno took gold in mixed international team archery with China’s Li Jiaman in 2014, and Christian Tio won silver in kiteboarding in 2018.

The Dakar squad is made up of athletes aged 17 and younger, competing in six of the 25 sports. About 2,700 athletes are expected to take part in the first Olympic event held on African soil.

Team Philippines Arrives in Dakar

The first batch of Filipinos landed Thursday night, Oct. 29, at Blaise Diagne International Airport in Diamniadio. They were exhausted from a 30-hour flight from Manila via Istanbul, and Tolentino was there to welcome them.

Swimmers Riannah Chantelle Coleman and Jamesray Mishael Ajido and wushu athlete Angel Polo have checked in at the Athletes’ Village. Their coaches, Ramil Ilustre and Jensen Halili (swimming) and Li Jianfang (wushu), are with them.

Rooms at the village come with electric fans instead of air-conditioning units. “So it’s good luck to our athletes, although I’m sure they prepared hard for this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Tolentino added.

Gymnasts Hilarrion Palles III and Tchelzy Mei Maayo fly to Dakar via Istanbul on Saturday, Oct. 31. Coaches Reyland Capellan and Kazutaka Hakamada will travel with them.

Cyclist Maritanya Krog follows on Nov. 4 with coaches Mark John Lexer Galedo and Marita Lucas. Athletes Pi Durden Wangkay and Naomi Marjorie Caesar and coach Jasper Tanhueco also leave that day.