EXPECT Filipino-Japanese judo champion Kiyomi Watanabe to give her best in the coming Tokyo Olympics.

Watanabe is one of 15 Filipino athletes who are set to represent the country in the coronavirus- disrupted Olympics scheduled July 23-Aug. 8.

The 24-year-old pride of Cebu City booked a ticket to the prestigious multi-sports competition after meeting the continental quota for the women’s 63-kgs category.

“We do not want to put any more pressure in Kiyomi or all the other Filipino athletes by making any predictions, but I can assure you that she will do her best,” said Philippine Judo Federation president David Carter during the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom last June 24.

“Sa totoo lang, ayaw na natin na ma-pressure yun mga atleta natin dahil hindi naman tayo yung talagang lumalaban. We’re not the ones in the battlefield, but we can imagine the pressure already being felt by our national athletes,” added Carter in only his second appearance in the weekly forum shown on Facebook live and YouTube.

“In Kiyomi’s case, I am sure she will do her best and give her best in Tokyo. Sa tingin ko, maaaring mas galingan pa nga niya,” explained Carter, who was joined in the session by National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) secretary-general Bones Floro.

Carter, who was also elected as one of the board of directors of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) last November 2020, said Watanabe’s biggest rivals in her category will come from France, Slovenia , the Netherlands and host Japan.

The daughter of a Japanese father and a Filipina mother from Mandaue, Watanabe grew up in Cebu before moving to Japan when she was eight years old.

She started representing the Philippines in 2011.

Overall, Watanabe has won a silver medal in the European Open in Austria in 2017 and Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018.

Watanabe also captured four gold medals in the Southeast Games in Naypyidaw in 2013, Singapore in 2015, Kuala Lumpur in 2017 and Manila in 2019 — all in 63kgs.

She also brought home a gold medal in the Asian Youth Judo Championships in Hong Kong in 2014.

Aside from Watanabe, the 14 other Filipino athletes competing in Tokyo are Ernest John Obiena (pole vault), Caloy Yulo (gymnastics), Eumir Marcial (boxing), Irish Magno (boxing), Nesthy Petecio (boxing), Carlo Paalam (boxing), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Cris Nievarez (rowing), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Margielyn Didal (skateboard), Elreen Ando (weightlifting), Jayson Valdez (shooting) Juvic Pagunsan (golf) and Kristina Knott (athletics).

Two other athletes — Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan — are also set to make it to Tokyo if they remain in top 60 of the Olympic golf rankings.

The two-hour long publIc service program by TOPS is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).