EJ Obiena, Kiyomi Watanabe named the Philippines' flag bearers for Tokyo Olympics

Pole vault ace EJ Obiena and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe will be the country's flag bearers in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.

The Parade of Nations will take place at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium on July 23 with the Philippines sending 19 athletes across 11 sports.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo was asked to carry the country's flag but the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) had to decline as the 21-year-old wunderkind will compete the very next day

Completing the 19-man Philippine contingent are Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando (weightlifting), Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio (boxing).

Cris Nievarez (rowing), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), Jayson Valdez (shooting), Kristina Knott (track and field), Juvic Pagunsan, Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan (golf), and Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule (swimming) are also set to compete.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News