Hidilyn and Co. set up for bigger goal

After meeting its Southeast Asian Games target, Philippine weightlifting has now trained its sights on the Tokyo Olympics.

“We were alright as far as the SEA Games is concerned, now we prepare for the Olympics,” said Monico Puentevella, president of Samahang Weightlifting sa Pilipinas, which is looking to send four to five bets to the Tokyo Games in August next year.

And they will come from among Rio de Janeiro veteran Hidilyn Diaz and Nestor Colonia, Kristel Macrohon, Elreen Ando, Mary Flor Diaz, Jeffrey Garcia and John Ceniza.

Puentevella stressed that the prospects of finally nailing that elusive gold medal in the Olympics is getting brighter and brighter, with weightlifting being the only NSA to qualify to the Olympics four straight times and counting. He said that they will launch a program that will extend to the Paris Games in 2024, with Rio Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz the center of the program.

Diaz topped the women’s 55-kilogram division, while upcoming star Kristel Macrohon dominated the 71 kg class in the recent SEA Games.

The Philippines also bagged three silvers and two bronzes in the biennial meet. INQ