Tokyo Olympic Games-bound shooter Jayson Valdez takes aim at gold medal

ONE of the last athletes to qualify for his event in the Olympic Games in Tokyo, shooter Jayson Valdez has become more determined to go for the gold.

Mr. Valdez earned qualification for the Summer Games in the men’s air rifle 10-meter event through the quota system implemented by the International Shooting Sports Federation.

It all came just when he thought his Olympic push was over, especially when the quadrennial event was postponed last year.

But as it turned out, from his participation in the World Cup and Asian qualifying tournaments previously, he met the minimum qualifying scores to earn a ticket to the Games.

Now in a position to showcase what he can do in the Olympics, Mr. Valdez said he will do everything he can to have the best possible showing.

“This is a great opportunity for me. We’ll see. Anything is possible at that stage,” said Mr. Valdez during his session on the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

“In the Olympics, my immediate goal is to beat my personal record [of 630]. If I could do that, I’m sure I’ll enter the Top Eight and go to the medal round. From there, everybody’s back to zero,” he added, noting that some of his possible opponents in the Olympics own personal best of either 631 or 632.

Added motivation for Mr. Valdez is for his father Julius’ Olympic dream to live through him.

“He always wanted to be an Olympian but he was not able to,” he said of his father who won three gold medals and a silver in the 1987 Jakarta Southeast Asian Games.

Now, the elder Valdez and veteran Tac Padilla, a five-time gold medal winner in the SEA Games, are helping him prepare.

Mr. Valdez is the latest Filipino shooter to qualify for the Olympics after Paul Brian Rosario, who competed in men’s skeet as a wild card entry in London 2012.

Prior to receiving his Tokyo qualification notice, Mr. Valdez was already set to enter the military. He said he is postponing it for now and concentrate first on his Olympic quest. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo