Hidilyn wants former coach back
In her quest for an Olympic gold, Hidilyn Diaz will have a familiar face back on her side.
Tony Agustin, Diaz’s coach long before she netted a silver medal in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, might return to the fold after Diaz asked to replace her present coach, Alfonsito Aldanete.
Diaz recently visited Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez and requested to reinstate Agustin, who was removed two years ago after the Zamboanga City lifter failed to bring home a medal in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
“We will look into her request,” said Ramirez. “She said Tony had been her coach from the start.”
According to Ramirez, PSC will provide all-out backing to the gold-medal quest of Diaz in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, slated July 24 to Aug. 9.
He said Diaz would train in Japan every year in the run-up to the Games and will be in Tokyo as early as January 2020.
“I always remind her commitment to the Filipino people that she will do her best to get that gold medal in Tokyo,” said Ramirez.
“She’s no longer an ordinary athlete. We will fund the training of Hidilyn and closely monitor her progress,” he added.
While the Southeast Asian Games next year in Kuala Lumpur and 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia are part of the buildup, Ramirez said they would focus more on the Olympics.
Under Aldanete’s tutelage, Diaz had consistently won medals in the Asian meet and world championships prior to the silver she bagged in the women’s 53 kg category in Rio.
Diaz competed in the 58 kg division under Agustin, who helped her pocket silver medals in the 2011 Indonesia and 2013 Burma (Myanmar) SEA Games.
Agustin was also by Diaz’s side in the 2012 London Olympics when she ended up in tears after failing to lift 118 kilos in the clean and jerk.
