Eduard “Landslide” Folayang has high hopes for the 22 Filipino athletes heading to Paris 2024.
So confident is the former ONE Lightweight MMA World Champion that he believes that a medal is bound to come home to the Philippines at the end of the quadrennial meet.
“Confident ako sa mga atleta natin lalo na sa mga sakripisyo at pinagdaanan nila para lang makapag-qualify sa Olympics. Kaya rin mas kampante ako na meron tayong makukuhang medalya,” he said.
And the sport which he believes could deliver those medals? Of course, boxing.
The Philippines have sent five boxers to the Olympics, namely Tokyo silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and fellow bets Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan.
“Dream ko talaga na marami sa ating combat athletes ang maka-gold lalo na sa boxers kasi dito naman talaga tayo kilala,” he said.
But Folayang, himself a former wushu national team member and an Asian Games silver medalist, wants to see more to emerge and bring glory back home, not just the boxers but for the other combat sports athletes.
Aside from the boxers, other combat sports athletes for the Philippines who are already in Paris are fencer Sam Catantan and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe.
In the end, Folayang, like every other Pinoy athlete, is just wishing luck for those valiant warriors representing our country in France.
“We’re all praying na maging successful ang campaign nilang lahat,” he said. “Ibang pakiramdam na ma-represent mo yung bansa, lalo na dala-dala mo sa balikat yung bandila natin. Alam namin yung lahat ng sacrifice para maabot ang time na ito kaya gusto lang natin na ibigay nila yung best nila kasi God will strengthen you all.”
Fight Game Asia 