In a budget defence meeting, Martinez highlighted Rio 2016 Olympic silver medal winning weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz as one of the standout athletes, while also mentioning boxing pair Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno as having a chance of standing at the top of the podium.

"We all know that by tradition, boxing is our strength in Olympic sport," said Martinez, according to the Mindanao Times.

Other athletes mentioned by Martinez included up-and-coming pole vaulter Ernest Obiena, who recently won the Golden Spike title at the Prague athletics meeting in the Czech Republic.

However, he will not be among the favourites for the gold.

Obiena would have to upset the world record holder, Sweden's Mondo Duplantis, who has been in the form of his life over the past two years.

Floor exercise world champion from 2019, Carlos Yulo, could be a gold medal prospect in artistic gymnastics.

Philippines has won three silver medals and seven bronze in its Olympic history.

"This is now the critical time that we push and channel all our resources with their training [with] one year to go," added Martinez.

He also proposed that the nation's top prospects are funded by the Government to aid their aims to become an Olympic champion at next year's Games, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) vice-president Jimmy Bondoc responded to this request stating: "We share your dream of finally obtaining that gold for our country.

"That is possible and I will definitely propose it to the Board."

PAGCOR is a Government-owned corporation that specialises in casinos.