By Adrian Stewart Co

Filipino shooter Jayson Valdez has realized his dream of suiting up in the Olympics following his qualification via International Shooting Sports Federation’s (ISSF) quota system.

Valdez, a bronze medalist in the 2015 Singapore Southeast Asian Games, admitted his inclusion in the Philippine athletes competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics came as a surprise.

Valdez, a former Adamson University standout, punched a Tokyo Olympics ticket after meeting the minimum qualifying scores or MQS for his participation in the World Cup and Asian qualifying tournaments.

“It was sudden news (qualification to 2020 Tokyo Olympics), but all there’s left to do now is give it my best,” the 25-year-old Valdez said in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas 2 on Sunday.

“It’s every athlete’s dream to take part in the Olympics. I’ve dedicated so much years to shooting and now, given this opportunity, I am humbled and honoured to represent our country in the sport that I love,” he added.

Valdez’s qualification in shooting ended a two-Olympic cycle drought for the Philippines in the sport. Paul Brian Rosario competed in men’s skeet as a wild card entry in London 2012.

Valdez is the son of former national team standout Julius Valdez, who himself is a gold medal winner for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games but failed to reach the Olympics.

Aside from Valdez, other Olympic qualifiers so far are boxers Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Felix Marcial; pole vaulter EJ Obiena; gymnast Carlos Yulo; skateboarder Margielyn Didal; taekwondo jin Kurt Bryan Barbosa; rower Cris Nievarez; and weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Erleen Ann Ando.

US Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Negrense Juvic Pagunsan are expected to join the growing list of national athletes bound to Olympics by the end of the month./ASC, WDJ