Mariya’s Asiad stint still possible

Mariya Takahashi’s chances of seeing action in the 18th Asian Games are still alive.

Deputy chief of mission Robert Bachmann said they are fighting hard to keep Takahashi in the national roster for the prestigious quadrennial meet set in Jakarta starting 18 August.

Bachmann said they already learned their lesson from the sudden withdrawal of the men’s basketball team so they are pressing Philippine Judo Federation president Dave Carter to secure Takahashi’s clearance from her school in Japan – Shukuga Gakuin High School.

Hopes are high on the 17-year old Takahashi. She burst into limelight by shocking four-time gold medalist Surratana Thongsri of Thailand in the finals of the 29th Southeast Asian Games last year, sparking speculations that she has what it takes to win a medal of any color in the Asian Games and give the country its first Olympic gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Unfortunately, her school barred her from seeing action in the Asian Games. Carter said Shukuga Gakuin is entering the crucial stretch of its program for the senior high school students and Takahashi has to attend some pressing school activities in the last two weeks of August.

But Bachmann said the delegation couldn’t afford to miss another blue chip athlete.

“Mariya is a potential medal-winner and we couldn’t afford to lose her,” said Bachmann who admitted the withdrawal of the men’s basketball team is already a major blow to their campaign.

“We already lost a world champion in (Krizziah) Tabora and SEA Games gold medalist in (Kaitlin) de Guzman to injury as well as our men’s basketball team.

I don’t think we can afford to lose Mariya Takahashi, especially since she’s a potential medal winner.”

Carter admitted that Bachmann and the Philippine Olympic Committee is pressing him to convince Shukuga Gakuin to issue Takahashi the green light to compete.

In fact, even the Japan Judo Federation is already reaching out to the ranking school officials just to allow her to see action in Asia’s biggest athletic event.

Nothing is cast in stone, but Carter stressed that he likes their chances.

“We’re getting there. We’re slowly convincing them,” said Carter, saying that he expects Takahashi to deliver a medal for Team Philippines.

“I think our chances of convincing the school officials improved to 60

Few days ago, everything was non-negotiable. But now, they are already finding a way to squeeze the Asian Games into her schedule.”

If and when Takahashi was cleared, she would fly to Jakarta either on 27 or 28 Aug., giving her enough time to rest before the competition starts on 30 Aug.

Carter said gaining experience in the Asian Games is very crucial to Takahashi, especially since she’s being groomed to compete in the Summer Games in 2020.

“The Asian Games is very important to bid of making it to the Olympics,” said Carter.

“Japan, Mongolia and other world superpowers in the sport are all competing here.

We have to field Mariya in the Asian Games if we want to see her competing in the Olympics.”