 |
| Jamie Lim believes the national karatedo team has enough time to gear up for the OQT. Ivan Saldajeno (file photo) |
MANILA--One concern among the national team is the amount of time allotted to it for training ahead of a high stakes tournament like the Olympics or a qualifying event of it.
While the Nationals have a valid reason this time, the COVID-19 pandemic that halted many sporting events across the globe, some still see a five-month preparation for the Olympic qualifying tournament in karatedo, three months locally inside the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba and two more internationally, as not that long.
But for Jamie Lim, it is already ample enough.
"Five months is great enough," the rising star karateka said in The Chasedown on Saturday.
She even said that despite the dojos being shut down due to the pandemic, she and the rest of the karate team are still in training mode.
"Since March naman na nag-lockdown, we've been continuing sa training. We have Zoom training and training on our own," said Lim, the daughter of PBA legend Samboy, a former national team member himself.
The result of the training, which includes some tournaments abroad, will be determined in the OQT in Paris in June.
The top three players in each division will enter the Tokyo Olympics the following month.
With hundreds of karatekas joining the OQT, Lim is expecting a tough grind.
"Everyone wants to be part of the Olympics, and this is really the last shot," the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist further said.
But Lim vowed, "I'm gonna do everything I can. I'll do my best and hope for the best."
The karatekas, all six of them plus their coaching staff, are scheduled to enter the "Calambubble" on Jan. 17, the last batch of those joining the said training bubble.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
.JPG)
.jpg)
0 Comments