“Salamat naman!” Go said as the development regarding Eala’s case was discussed during the Senate Committee on Sports hearing on Thursday, October 8, on the Philippine delegation’s Asian Games campaign.
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Go, chairperson of the committee, had earlier joined calls for the Women’s Tennis Association to spare Eala from a potential penalty after the Filipina tennis star chose the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan over the China Open in Beijing.
The scheduling conflict placed Eala in an extraordinary situation because the China Open is a mandatory WTA 1000 event for a player of her ranking.
Despite the possibility of a monetary penalty and consequences to her professional ranking, Eala chose to wear the Philippine colors in Nagoya.
The Philippine Tennis Association subsequently sought an exemption from the WTA, while the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, lawmakers and members of the sports community publicly rallied behind Eala’s decision.
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Go was among those who strongly supported the appeal.
“Hindi dapat parusahan ang atleta dahil pinili niyang katawanin ang bandila,” Go had said when Eala’s situation first surfaced.
For the senator, the eventual relief from the monetary penalty was welcome recognition of the exceptional circumstances surrounding Eala’s decision.
Go credited the collective effort of Philippine sports officials and stakeholders who supported Eala and pushed for consideration of her case rather than leaving the young athlete to deal with the consequences alone.
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He said the episode also demonstrated the importance of having institutions ready to defend Filipino athletes when international professional commitments collide with national-team duty.
Eala eventually delivered another medal for the Philippines, taking bronze in women’s singles at the Asian Games.
Go included Eala among the Filipino medalists he congratulated during the Senate hearing, praising the entire Philippine delegation for competing for the country.
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For Go, Eala’s decision illustrated the difficult choices increasingly faced by elite Filipino athletes whose careers operate simultaneously within professional international circuits and national-team competitions.
The senator acknowledged that professional athletes have the right to protect their careers and livelihoods, especially when major tournaments involve substantial prize money, ranking points and future opportunities.
At the same time, he said athletes who voluntarily accept those risks to represent the Philippines deserve government support.
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Go said Eala should not have been left to absorb a financial penalty simply because she answered the country’s call.
The controversy had drawn attention even before the Asian Games, with sports officials warning that Eala could face a substantial fine for missing the mandatory China Open.
Instead of backing away from Nagoya, Eala proceeded with her Asian Games campaign.
Go said that commitment deserves recognition regardless of the color of the medal eventually won.
The senator has repeatedly emphasized that national athletes must be allowed to focus on competition while sports institutions handle the administrative, financial and organizational problems surrounding their participation.
He said the response to Eala’s case is an example of the kind of cooperation he wants to see across Philippine sports.
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Government sports agencies, national sports associations, professional organizations and the private sector must work together whenever Filipino athletes face obstacles outside the field of play, Go stressed.
He likewise reiterated his push for policies that give greater importance to representing the Philippines in major international competitions while respecting the professional careers and earning opportunities of Filipino athletes. BuyMaps
Go said the Senate Committee on Sports will continue consulting athletes and stakeholders on possible reforms to make the relationship between national-team service and professional commitments clearer and more sustainable.
For now, he said the removal of the monetary penalty hanging over Eala’s decision is already welcome news.
Eala competed for the Philippines despite knowing that doing so could carry a personal professional cost. Go said the united response from the Philippine sports community ensured she did not have to face that burden alone. BuyMaps