Fil-Japanese karateka Junna Tsukii still chasing Olympic dream

The Olympic Games may have been postponed for a year, but Filipino-Japanese karateka Junna Tsukii remains on her quest to qualify for Tokyo.

According to Chino Trinidad's report for "24 Oras," Junna is currently training in Saitama, Japan under the tutelage of her father, Shin-sensei.

In 2018, the karateka won the bronze medal at the Asian Games and began to aim higher in her sport.

"I got bronze in Asian Games, so [I thought] maybe, 'ah, kaya ko 'yan,'" she said. "Because now I got medal in Asia so next step, ok my goal is Olympics."

Junna is born in Pasay City to a Filipina mother and a Japanese father. She grew up in Japan but returned to the Philippines in 2017 to play for the national team.

In December, she won the gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games on her mother's home soil.

Now, Junna is on a mission to book Asia's lone slot in the women's under 55 kg category for the chance to compete in her father's home land.

"Train your body but most important your heart," she said. "Don't give up."

Other athletes who have qualified for the Olympics include pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno. —MGP, GMA News