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NATIONAL ATHLETES START ARRIVING IN CALAMBUBBLE FOR OLYMPIC TRAINING

National athletes who will be having their training in preparation for qualifying tournaments in the Tokyo Olympics have begun entering the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.

/ 18 January 2021

The first batch of athletes went inside the bubble on Friday.

More athletes are expected to come in the next few days following then approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to conduct a three-month training.

Boxers Nesthy Petecio, Junmilardo Ogayre, Marjon Pianar, Carlo Paalam, Marvin Tabamo, John Paul Panuayan, Mario Fernandez, Aira Villegas, Analyn Cellon, and Josie Gabuco with coaches Elmer Pamisa, Nolito Velasco, Mitchelle Mertinez, Roel Velasco, Ronald Chavez, Jojen and Rogen Ladon were among the first batch of athletes who entered last Friday.

While karateka Jamie Lim, Jason Macaalay, Ivan Agustin, Shrief Afif, and Alwayn Batian entered the bubble last Saturday with coaches Norman Montalvo and Junel Perania.

Also, taekwondo jins Kirstie Elaine Alora, Kurt Barbosa, Arven Alcantara, Joseph Chua, Samuel Morrison, Jessica Canabal, Laila Delo arrived last Saturday with their coaches Carlos Padilla, Al Christian dela Cruz, and Luis De Mesa.

Among the athletes that arrived last Saturday was Tokyo Olympics qualifier Irish Magno who came from Iloilo and was accompanied by her foreign coach Donald Abnett.

Meanwhile, athletes Ian Clark Bautista, James Palicte, Jere Samuel Dela Cruz, and Riza Pasuit whole are from Negros and Bago City will enter the bubble on Monday with coach Reynaldo Galido.

The IATF authorized the Calambubble training as the country looks to have more athletes secure their tickets in the Tokyo Olympics set from July 23 to August 8 this year.

As per the guidelines of the Philippine Sports Commission, even though the athletes and their coaches will be training at the Inspire Sports Academy, health and safety protocols will still be a priority inside the training camp.