Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz competes in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
As far as the weightlifting association is concerned, the Hidìlyn Diaz fever must spread down to the level of school sports.
Weightlifting president Monico Puentevella said he will ask the Department of Education as well as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines to get the sport included in their calendars.
“We must strike while the iron is hot and get more kids into weightlifting,” said Puentevella who, back in 2008, secured a wild card for Diaz in Beijing for her first Olympics appearance.
NCAA management committee member Peter Cayco said they are not closing the doors on the possibility, but the pandemic makes it difficult to even consider it.
“We have not discussed it,” said Cayco. “I don’t think now is the time to consider new sports for the NCAA. We join the nation in celebrating Hidilyn’s momentous triumph that should serve as inspiration to our youth.”
Diaz is taking up business management at St. Benilde, an NCAA member school.
Weightlifting has been played in the Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy, which are based on local governments and organized by the Philippine Sports Commission.