Go, Rivero, men’s coach Kim Hong Sik of Korea and women’s coach Rocky Samson were originally booked to leave for Beijing tomorrow but their departure has been reset to Friday.
PTA executive vice president and grandmaster Sung Chon Hong will join the athletes in Beijing on Aug. 18 while Aventajado will arrive the next day with the jins’ families. The draw is set on Aug. 19.
"We thought of sparing Tshom and Toni from the pollution in Beijing by a few days," said Aventajado. "I spoke with (Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president) Manny (Lopez) who’s now in Beijing and he told me Harry (Tañamor) isn’t jogging outdoors because of the smog."
Rivero will weigh-in on Aug. 19 and plunge into action in the 57-67 kilogram welterweight class the next day. Go will weigh-in on Aug. 21 and take to the floor on Aug. 22 in the -58 kilogram flyweight class.
While waiting for their departure, Aventajado said Go and Rivero continue to train thrice a day in the gym.
"They’re tapering off right now with a relatively light workout load," said Aventajado. "They’ll peak in time for the competitions."
Both Go and Rivero represented the country at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Rivero was a win away from barging into the welterweight finals and lost a disputed 3-2 decision to 5-10 Greek favorite Elizavet Mystakidou in the semis. The loss dropped Rivero to a playoff for the bronze and she wound up dropping a 6-2 verdict to Korea’s Hwang Kyung Sun.
"Toni was only 16 in Athens," said Aventajado. "Now, she’s four years older, more experienced and more prepared. Her raw courage has always been there. I guess it runs in the family. Someone joked her grandfather was a siga-siga in San Beda during his college days. Toni is lot more confident today. Her maturity is evident. She’s more determined."
Aventajado said Rivero’s recent intensive two-month training at the Pung Saeng High School in Seongnam, near Seoul, toughed her for the Olympic grind. "She wasn’t babied in training," continued Aventajado. "She sparred with boys who pushed her to the limit. She’s focused and hungry to win. She holds her ground against anybody."
Aventajado said in Rivero’s class of 16 fighters, she has faced seven in previous competitions and lost only to two. One was Mystakidou, now 31.
"I was told there was no way the judges would score the fight for Toni over the hometown favorite in Athens," said Aventajado. "If Toni won that match, she would’ve come home with at least a silver. But things are different now."
No Chinese is entered in Rivero’s weight class so a hometown decision is ruled out.
Aventajado said he has high hopes for Go – who trained with Rivero in Seongnam – to bring back a medal, too. Go qualified for Beijing by bagging the bronze at the World Championships in Manchester last year. He earned his ticket before Rivero booked hers at the Asian qualifiers in Vietnam.
"I’ve talked to both Tshom and Toni," continued Aventajado. "It would be hypocritical to claim they don’t feel the pressure. But their confidence is intact. They know what they’re up against. They’ve got what it takes to win."
Aventajado said the jins’ support system has touched a "patriotic chord" in their hearts.
"They know how solid is the support behind them," said Aventajado. "They’re not affected by the incentives, one way or the other. They know they’re fighting for our country with the entire PTA organization, their parents, relatives and countrymen giving them all-out support and praying for their success."
Aventajado said while Rivero could probably fight in one or two more Olympics, this could be Go’s last hurrah.
"It’s all up to Tshom," said Aventajado. "After the Olympics, we’ll compete in the Southeast Asian and Asian Games. If he continues to do well, Tshom might still make it to the 2012 London Olympics. Remember, we brought Don (Geisler) out of retirement for the last Asian Games. Everything will depend on Tshom’s focus and determination."
Aventajado said he hopes the Philippine delegation will have already bagged a medal before Rivero and Go begin to compete.
"That will surely lessen the pressure on Tshom and Toni," said Aventajado. "It’s dreadful if no Filipino will have won a medal before they compete. But Tshom and Toni are ready for any eventuality."
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