Shooter Valdez earns slot to Tokyo Olympics

Practical shooter Jayson Valdez has claimed an Olympic slot, becoming the 12^th Filipino athlete to go to Tokyo next month.

The 25-year-old Valdez earned his slot in the men’s 10-meter air rifle event via continental quota from the Munich-based International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF).

“I received an urgent message from the ISSF in Germany, the mother of all the shooting federations,” said Valdez. “They asked me if we’re ready, so I replied ‘Yes we’re ready!’ and they gave me the quota.”

Valdez will join the Philippine delegation to the postponed Olympics that already includes pole-vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Caloy Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando, rower Cris Nievarez, taekwondo’s Kurt Barbosa and skateboarder Margie Didal.

For the last two Olympics, the Philippines failed to send an athlete in practical shooting. The last time was in the 2012 London Games where Paul Brian Rosario got through in the men’s skeet as a wild card entry.

Valdez was the last to get the call from ISSF after making the minimum qualifying scores (MQS) he got in the World Cup and Asian qualifying tournaments early this year.

Valdez’ father, Julius, was a triple gold medalist in the 1987 Jakarta Southeast Asian Games.