Weight of eight
Our biggest hope is Alex Eala, the latest toast of professional tennis, who made the difficult decision to skip the China Open to carry the country’s hopes in the Asian Games.
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Our biggest hope is Alex Eala, the latest toast of professional tennis, who made the difficult decision to skip the China Open to carry the country’s hopes in the Asian Games.
As the 20th Asian Games officially gets underway in Aichi-Nagoya, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is painting a glowing picture of the Filipinos’ participation: eight gold medals.
On the surface, this bold prediction looks inspiring. In fact, save for the Manila edition in 1954, where the Filipinos emerged with a record 14 golds, their next-best performance also happened on Japanese soil — eight gold, 19 silver and 20 bronze — in Tokyo in 1958.
In the last edition in Hangzhou, Filipino athletes won four gold medals in basketball, athletics and jiu-jitsu. So understandably, the POC is doubling that count to light a fire under these gritty Filipino athletes, pushing them hard to give their very best in the biggest and most prestigious multisport conclave in Asia.
But here’s the uncomfortable question nobody dares to ask: Where are we going to get those eight gold medals?
There’s no denying that Filipino athletes are truly world-class. Carlos Yulo, for one, has cemented his status as one of the best gymnasts in the world after winning two gold medals in the Paris Olympics, while Ernest John Obiena — despite sliding from No. 2 to No. 11 in the World Athletics rankings — remains a heavyweight, as he still holds the Asian men’s pole vault record of 6.0 meters, as well as the Asian Games record of 5.90 meters that he achieved in Hangzhou four years ago.
The POC is also counting on our athletes in combat sports. Olympic boxers like Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas and, probably, Eumir Marcial will all be seeing action, while former Asian Games champion Annie Ramirez, as well as those in taekwondo, wushu and mixed martial arts, could pull off some surprises — together with the athletes vying in skateboarding and esports.
But our biggest hope is Alex Eala, the latest toast of professional tennis.
The 21-year-old sensation made the difficult decision to skip the China Open — a lucrative and very crucial WTA 1000 tournament — to carry the country’s hopes in the Asian Games.
Her chances look bright, as the best Asian players on the professional tour, like newly crowned world No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, Naomi Osaka of Japan and reigning champion Qinwen Zheng of China, have all opted out of the Asian Games in favor of the China Open, where hefty cash prizes and massive ranking points are at stake.
Still, despite the star power of Eala and the other Filipino athletes, the Asian Games is a different kind of beast.
Unlike the Southeast Asian Games, where teams compete in the spirit of cooperation, friendship and goodwill, countries like China, South Korea, India, Chinese Taipei, Iran, Uzbekistan and host Japan take the Asian Games seriously and will be parading their best athletes.
Even tiny Bahrain is deploying four naturalized players in a bid to dethrone Gilas Pilipinas, which is parading an all-local crew composed of Philippine Basketball Association standouts.
So, what’s the basis for the POC’s medal projection? Did it consult coaches and their national sports associations, the bodies that prepare national athletes for major international events? Does it have data on the records and previous performances of the athletes at the Asian level?
If the POC doesn’t have a solid basis, then coming up with a bold forecast would be very difficult.
Although ambitious predictions make for thrilling headlines and exciting soundbites, setting a very high target often creates a precarious situation for Filipino athletes because, when unfulfilled, this high expectation often leads to public disappointment, heartbreak and unjust criticism.
Sports leadership should include shielding athletes from unnecessary noise and creating an environment where they can flourish. Instead of setting a ridiculous benchmark, sports officials should remind our athletes that making it to the Asian Games is a major victory in itself — a testament to their years of sacrifice, discipline and passion.
So rather than putting the weight of a medal quota on the shoulders of the national delegation, the POC should shift its focus toward a more constructive message. It should encourage the athletes to give it their best, take pride in representing the country and just enjoy the Games.
There is a sense of fulfillment in enjoying the journey rather than setting sights on the destination. When athletes are encouraged to enjoy the tournament and express their skills freely, peak performance often follows naturally. Removing the dread of falling short of an official forecast would allow them to compete with passion rather than pressure.
Its prediction of eight gold medals reflects the POC’s confidence in the Filipino athletes. But true sports leadership also requires grounding that enthusiasm in reality. Our sports officials should act as a shield, not as a source of pressure.
Let us celebrate our athletes’ hard work and dedication without boxing them into numerical expectations. For as long as they compete with all their hearts, give it their best and savor every single moment on the continental stage, they will definitely make the country proud.
Good luck, Team Philippines!
