Hidilyn Diaz, who won the Silver in the women’s 53-kg Weightlifting of the Rio Olympics is applauded by her countrymen shortly upon arrival Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. The Olympic medal was the highest and the first for the Philippines in 20 years.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Hidilyn Diaz will make Japan her second home over the next four years in a serious effort to feel at ease during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
And the same goes for other Filipino elite athletes bidding to play in the biggest sports gathering on the planet.
Philippine Sports Commission Chair Butch Ramirez said beginning next year, they would fund on an annual basis the training of athletes from Olympic sports in Tokyo to acclimatize themselves.
“The plan is to bring our athletes there every year,” said Ramirez. “All our Olympic qualifiers will be there early, leading to the Games.”
The 2020 Tokyo Games on July 24 to Aug. 9 offers 324 gold medals in 33 sports.
Diaz bagged a silver in weightlifting during the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, finally breaking the dearth of medals for the country over the past 20 years.
Ramirez said they would be happy to see at least 20 to 30 Filipinos in the Tokyo meet.
“We just don’t hope and pray. We should expect to win medals,” said Ramirez.
Diaz has promised to nail the elusive gold in Tokyo.
The PSC will prioritize athletes from Olympic sports to increase the country’s medal collection in Tokyo.