The Philippines will be sending at least 12 athletes to the Tokyo Olympics.

Shooter Jayson Valdez became the 12th Filipino to qualify for the Summer Games as he punched his Olympic ticket through the quota system implemented by the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF).

He will compete in the men’s air rifle 10m event, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced on Saturday, June 19.

Philippine National Shooting Association secretary-general Irene Garcia also confirmed Valdez’s entry.

Valdez will be the first Filipino since Paul Brian Rosario to participate in Olympic shooting.

Rosario saw action in the 2012 London Olympics as a wild card entry in the men’s skeet event.

“I received an urgent message last night from the ISSF in Germany, the mother of all the shooting federations,” Valdez said.

“They asked me if we’re ready, so I replied, ‘Yes we’re ready!’ and they gave me the quota.”

Valdez will join pole vaulter Ernest Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, skateboarder Margielyn Didal, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Erleen Ando, taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa, and rower Cris Nievarez in the Olympics.

That list will grow to 15 names as golfers Yuka Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion, Bianca Pagdanganan, and Juvic Pagunsan will be officially announced as Olympic qualifiers on Tuesday, June 22. – Rappler.com