By Ed Andaya

WINNING the gold medal in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam remains on swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi's mind even during the pandemic.
A two-time Olympian in 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Alkhaldi believes the Hanoi SEA Games scheduled on May 2022 is her best opportunity to win it all.
And the 28-year-old management and marketing graduate of University of Hawaii is willing to do everything -- from spending long hours of training in the pool to competing against the world's best in various international competitions -- to achieve her goal.
"Winning the gold in the coming SEA Games is really my goal right now. Madami pa, but one at a time muna," said Alkhaldi during the 125th "Usapang Sports on Air" by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom last Oct. 21.
"Mahirap lang talaga mag-training dito sa atin. Minsan pwede, minsan hindi. Ngayon nakatuloy-tuloy na ako ng training so mas confident ako at nakapag- focus. Right now, talagang hungry pa din ako to get the gold," added Alkhaldi in the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
Alkhaldi 's long record of success included winning a total of three silvers and 17 bronze medals in butterfly and freestyle events in four SEA Games in 2013 Napyidaw, 2015 Singapore, 2017 Kuala Lumpur and 2019 Manila.

The gold medal, however, remains elusive.
"In the 2019 SEA Games, I think nine events ako at kailangan talaga twice a day mag-training everyday. So ang plano namin ng coach ko ngayon is bawasan yung events ko. Maybe focus only on three events in Hanoi," said Alkhaldi, who holds the nationak women's record in the 200, 100, 50 metre freestyle and 100 metre butterfly and 50 metre butterfly events.
"Before halos lahat nilangoy ko. Hindi ko na kaya yan ngayon because of the on-and-off training. Mag-focus lang muna kami sa three short events. With the way that I'm training na once a day swimming then gym, mas kakayanin na," added Alkhaldi, who now trains at The Village Sports Club in Parañaque and Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.
"Hopefully, pumayag yung federation,"
Alkhaldi, the daughter of a Filipino mother and Saudi Arabian father, admitted the lack of enough training and preparations affected her performance in the qualifying event for the Tokyo Olympics.
"I'm sure affected talaga yung performance ko ng lack of training. Sa Tokyo Olympics, nag-compete ako for one chance, one try to make it to Tokyo last June. But that was my first competition since 2019 SEA Games, or after about one year and a half. OK naman ang time ko pero it's not enough to make the Tokyo Olympics," recalled Alkhaldi.
"I was really very disappointed. But with all the restrictions and I was here in the Philippines the whole time, mahirap talaga to be able to reach that level."
"Last year, mahirap talaga kasiwala talagang swimming pool na open nung first lockdown. So three months ako na no training at sa bahay lang. Pero this year, especially noong mid-June or July, mas naging relaxed na ang mga restrictions at mas nakaka-swim na ako everyday. Dati, nag-try ako mag swimming dito sa bahay ko na walang swimming pool.
Alkhaldi's previous clockings were also enough to earn her a spot for the Philippine team to both the World Championships in Dubai in December and the SEA Games next year.
"Dapat talaga lalangoy ako sa selection bubble ng Philippine Swimming, Inc. sa New Clark City, but they said na qualified na ako because the times that I did in the SEA Games. The third place time is usually the qualifying time at ako yung third placer."
"But as much as possible, I still wanna do that again before the SEA Games just to be prepared. Kasi yun qualifying time was 2019 pa before the pandemic. And they're using that time for me to qualify. But I think naman I can do it again. I just wanna do it first before the SEA Games para mas confident."
Alkhaldi underscored the importance of getting a lot of international exposure.
"Walang masyadong international competitions dito, walang masyadong kalaban. Kaya kailangan talagang lumabas at makipag-compete sa mga kalaban from different countries para talaga ma-push ako to go and pass my limits. We'll see kung matuloy kami for the World Championships sa Dubai," said Alkhaldi while thanking the PSC, PSI, Hapee Toothpaste, Ever Bilena and Cebuana Luillier for supporting her dream.

She admitted she was surprised to see that everything is back to normal in the Tokyo Olympics qualifying tournament in Italy.
"Nagulat ako na parang medyo mas back to normal na sila. Ang kailangan lang namin was RT-PCR test bago ako umalis at nung dumating ako. Ang ginawa kasi nila parang staggered yung competitions kayang parang konti lang ang tao sa swimming pool."
"So nung nag-compete kami, para talagang normal na walang COVID, except naka-mask, so naka-mask ako bago ako tatalon sa tubig, hanggang paglabas mo. Pagtayo mo by your lane, saka mo na lang pwedeng tanggalin ang mask. I think yun lang yung pinaka-difference kasi once natapos ka, once mag-up ka, kailangang mag-mask kaagad. Medyo hassle lang kasi pagod ka na at magma-mask kaagad."
"Pero yun lang ang pinaka-difference kasi nga I think sa Italy mas na-control na ang pandemic. Sa outdoors pwede ka na maglakad na walang mask like nun nandun ako last June. Parang normal na sila dun. Very different siya than most countries in Southeast Asia which are still in the middle of the pandemic."
Asked for her preferred place to train, Alkhaldi has only two choices: Italy or the United States.
"May competitor-friend ako sa Italy so nagpunta ako dun to train years ago. Gusto ko kasi sa training, may mas mabilis sa akin para subukan ko sya talunin. For sure, mag-improve ako. Yun friend ko sa Italy, lagi kami naglalaban sa pool. I really want to push myself to the limit so I want to train with the best and be the best,"stressed Alkhaldi.
"Aside from Italy, siguro sa US dahil parang normal na sila. Maghahanap ako ng buddy-buddy sa training. Somebody who can bring out the best in me."
with reports from Gab Ferreras

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