MANILA – Skateboarder Margielyn Didal hopes that her gold medal feat in the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia will change how the sport is being treated in the Philippines.
In an interview after ruling the women’s skateboarding street event, the 19-year-old native of Cebu City said she hopes Filipinos will now consider skateboarding as a legitimate sport.
“Sana mag-iba tingin ng tao sa skateboarding,” Didal told Radyo Pilipinas. “Babaguhin natin iyong laro. Need natin ng support nila. Sana huwag na tayo hulihin (ng mga pulis) sa daan.”
“Sa streets lang, hinahabol kami ng pulis, mga security ’pag may nakitang nag-skate,” she added. “Minsan po ’pag nasa mall, ’pag nakahawak ka ng board, bawal ka pumasok.”
Prior to her gold medal in the Asiad, Didal already participated in international skateboarding events – she was the first Filipina to be invited to compete in the 2018 X-Games in Minneapolis.
“Biggest skateboarding event in the world iyon so I was fortunate na mapasali doon,” said Didal, a daughter of a carpenter and a street vendor selling the street food kwek-kwek (boiled quail eggs coated with orange batter and friend) in Lahug, Cebu City.
“Ngayong may P6-million incentive, ang una kong gagawin ay kuhanan ng passport ang parents ko para makapanood sila ng international competitions ko kasi madaming invitations sa skate events,” she added.
Didal was the fourth Filipina athlete to deliver a gold medal for the country in the 18th Asian Games. Others were Hidilyn Diaz for weightlifting, and Yuka Saso and the women’s golf team./PN
