Skateboarding

Margielyn Didal ramps up Tokyo 2020 preparations in hometown Cebu

Beatrice Go

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Margielyn Didal ramps up Tokyo 2020 preparations in hometown Cebu

TRAINING. Margielyn Didal and her team train together in the new skate facility in Cebu.

Photo from Red Bull

Despite the postponement of the Olympic qualifiers, skateboarding star Margielyn Didal is ready to see action in the Tokyo Games

Whether or not the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will push through, the Philippines’ top skateboarder Margielyn Didal is just ready to see action again in the sport.

With consistent all-around training and the completion of the skate facility in Cebu, the country’s spunky skateboarder and her team continue to be optimistic with her chances in the biggest stage in sports.

“I’ve been visualizing [participating in] it. I don’t know what to feel and what to expect this coming Tokyo Olympics, but I think it’s going to be big because the whole world is preparing,” said Didal in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas 2.

Didal is virtually qualified for the quadrennial meet as she ranks No. 14 out of the top 20 skateboarders who will see action in Tokyo.

Olympic hopefuls in skateboarding, including the 21-year-old Filipina, were unable to get back into the qualifying process as the year-opening Olympic qualifier in Peru was postponed due to COVID-19 concerns.

Only the top 16 in the world rankings will earn Olympic berths along with the top 3 winners in the World Championships and 1 from host Japan.

According to SKATE Pilipinas president Carl Sambrano, the international federation has been regularly meeting with the local national sports associations to give updates on the situation of the qualifiers.

The Cebuana skateboarder has to continue raking in points from the 4 Olympic qualifying tournaments and the world championship to be staged before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in July.

Though Didal and her team have not left the Philippines and are safe in Cebu, coach Dani Bautista still factors in the importance of the competitive scene in her preparations.

“Ideally, that would be better so she’ll be around those competitors to raise up the level. But with regards to her rankings, I’m confident that she’s gonna be in the Olympics even though there will be no more qualifiers,” said Bautista.

SKATE Pilipinas was also able to bring national team members Cindy Serna and Mac Feliciano to Cebu in order to train with Didal.

“Because a few months ago, Margie didn’t have any training partners or anyone on her level to skate with so now she has that and that’s good,” added Bautista.

Before the pandemic, Didal cruised to a double gold in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and immediately flew to Tampa in Florida for an Olympic qualifier where she placed 3rd.

She flew back to Cebu when the Philippines went into lockdown and continued training with only makeshift materials in her house. ([PODCAST] Targeting Tokyo: Margielyn Didal)

But as lockdown restrictions eased up, she was able to participate in online competitions. – Rappler.com

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Beatrice Go

More commonly known as Bee, Beatrice Go is a multimedia sports reporter for Rappler, who covers Philippine sports governance, national teams, football, and the UAAP. Stay tuned for her news and features on Philippine sports and videos like the Rappler Athlete’s Corner and Rappler Sports Timeout.