After triumphant Tokyo campaign, POC chief upbeat for PH team in Paris 2024

The message was clear from the Tokyo Olympics: Filipino athletes have what it takes to compete — and win — at the highest level.

Four Pinoys took home medals with Hidilyn Diaz fueling the contingent with a breathtaking gold medal finish in the women's 55-kg event of the weightlifting tournament last July 26.

Then, three boxers followed suit.

Nesthy Petecio put up a valiant act against hometown bet Sena Irie of Japan in the final round of the women's featherweight division but fell short and settled for silver.

Eumir Marcial, 25, scooped the first bronze for the Philippines after falling prey to  Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine in the semifinal round of men's middleweight.

Budding pugilist Carlo Paalam punctuated the Philippine team campaign with a silver mint of his own after a loss to Galal Yafai of Great Britain to settle for silver in the men’s flyweight final round.

Aside from the four, other Filipino athletes have also put on a show in the Games.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo made it to the finals of the men's vault in the artistic gymnastics event and was just points shy of clinching the podium. Pole vaulter EJ Obiena also came close to a medal after barging into the final round against the world's best.

Skateboarding ace Margielyn Didal, meanwhile, finished seventh among eight competitors in the finals, where she also captured the hearts of many with her cheerfulness and positive attitude.

Golfer Yuka Saso finished in ninth place while Bianca Pagdanganan was ranked no. 43 through four rounds. Cris Nievarez also placed fifth in the quarterfinals of the rowing event.

Other delegates in Kristina Knott (athletics), Irish Magno (boxing), Juvic Pagunsan (golf), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), Jayson Valdez (shooting), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Elreen Ando (weightlifting), and Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule (swimming) were also able to show what Filipino talents are made of.

And for Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino, the country can continue the momentum all the way to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"We were able to show the real power of the Filipinos. We discovered that we can actually win [medals]," Tolentino said in a press conference Sunday.

"After 97 years, we finally broke the drought. And as long as our program and support continue, then we can repeat it in Paris. We might even surpass it with the talents we have."

Tolentino, though, admitted that it would only be possible if the same, or even bigger, support will come the athletes' way in their preparation for the Paris Games.

"Hopefully, God-willing, as long as we continue with the program, with the [help] of the NSAs (national sports associations) and POC and the national government and private sectors, we can do this."

Tolentino also lauded the Philippine contingent for being atop its neighboring nations in Southeast Asia, especially with the fact that the country remains as the reigning overall champion of the SEA Games.

"Imagine after the Southeast Asian Games [in 2019], we were the overall champion. Then after that, we were once again the number one in Southeast Asia. We even surpassed some European countries."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News