For a change, a couple of Filipino athletes competing in the Beijing Olympics are not really counting on the luck of the draw.

“I don’t want to say that during the drawing of lots, we’ll be hoping that they are not drawn with the top guns,” said RP taekwondo chief Robert Aventajado in yesterday’s PSA Forum.

He said flyweight Tshomlee Go and middleweight Toni Rivero have worked so hard in training that the luck of the draw shouldn’t decide their chances of winning the medals in Beijing.

The two athletes trained long and hard in Korea – the unorthodox way. They were even mixed with some Navy Seals, and did rowing, rock-climbing and the dragging of old, heavy tires.

“Our attitude is that if they fall in the same bracket with the top guns then we’re ready. A clash with the top guns is just fine with us,” said Aventajado.

“Because if we beat them early then it’s almost getting half the job done,” said Aventajado who was joined in the forum by the country’s top taekwondo jins.

“We’re ready,” said Go.

“I think I’ve matured as a fighter,” added Rivero, only 16 when she fell short of a medal in the 2004 Athens Olympics. She lost to bronze winner and reigning world champion Hwang Kyung-Sun of Korea.

Aventajado yesterday said his athletes are ready to face any eventuality, whether or not they are bracketed with those tipped to win the gold medals.

“We have prepared Tshomlee and Toni to win the medal – of any color. They are prepared to win,” said Aventajado.

He also announced during the forum that Petron, their benefactor, has pledged P1 million for the gold, P600,000 for the silver and P300,000 for the bronze.

The offer, however, is only good for taekwondo.

In the case of Rivero, facing Hwang Kyung-Sun looks inevitable.

“Whether it’s in the early part or later on in the day Toni will have to beat this Korean. She has to demolish her because Toni wants to win the gold,” said Aventajado.

The taekwondo chief, who’s also chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, admitted that he’s excited about the chances of Go (-57 kgs) and Rivero (-67 kgs).