(NI JEAN MALANUM)

MATAAS ang ekspektasyon ng taumbayan sa weightlifting sa darating na 30th Southeast Asian Games, kaya malaki rin ang pressure sa national lifters na pangunguna ni 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz na mag-deliver.

Kasalukuyang nagsasanay at lumalahok sa mga tournaments sa abroad si Diaz para makamit ang pangarap na makapaglaro sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Hindi siya pinalad na manalo sa Beijing (2008) at London (2012) ngunit bumangon sa Rio de Janeiro (2016) upang makopo ang silver medal sa 53kg category at maging unang Pinay na medalist sa Olympics.

Kasama ni Diaz na sasabak sa SEA Games sina Eileen Ann Ando, Kristel Macrohon, Margaret Colonia at Vanessa Sarno. Ang huli ay nanalo ng dalawang gold medals sa katatapos na Asian Youth Junior and Youth Championships sa Pyongyang, North Korea.

Tinalo ni Sarno ang mga paboritong atleta mula sa North Korea at Uzbekistan sa final kaya’t tinagurian din siyang potential qualifier sa Tokyo Olympics at posibleng medalist sa Paris (2024).

Ayon kay Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella, may deep bench of talents ang kanyang asosasyon na pwedeng makasama kina Olympians Nestor Colonia at Diaz para mag-represent ng Pilipinas sa Tokyo Olympics na idaraos mula Hulyo 24 hanggang Agosto 9.

Sinabi ni Puentevella na kasama sa priorities ng SWP ang magkaroon ng impressive finish sa SEA Games, nais din niya na madagdagan ang kanila koponan sa Olympics.

“We want to become the sports association with the largest number of Olympic delegates,” ani Puentevella, ang dating chairman ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) at commissioner ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) na taga-Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

“Like Hidilyn when she competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008, we are also exposing our young players to international competitions as early as 16 years old. We are preparing them early and want them to qualify in the Tokyo Olympics so that by 2024, they already have the experience to become Olympic medalists,” paliwanag ni Puentevella.

“We’re more concerned now with winning in the Olympics than in the SEA Games. Modesty aside, we’re poised to send more athletes to the Olympics aside from Hidilyn and Nestor. We have a lot of young players in the pipeline,” dagdag niya.

Kailangan ng mahusay na performances ang mga atleta sa anim na qualifying tournaments para makakuha ng slots sa Olympics. Lumahok na ang mga Pinoy sa ibang tournaments at ang iba pa nilang sasalihan ay ang SEA Games, China World Championships, Roma World Championships at Asian Championships.

Pinasalamatan ni Puentevella ang PSC sa pamumuno ni William Ramirez dahil sa all-out support nito na mas lalong nagbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga atleta na lalong magpursige na makakuha ng Olympic slots.

“Due to our achievements in the past, the PSC, through chairman William Ramirez is throwing its all-out support. I guess it’s because we’re the only federation that delivered a silver medal or a medal of any color in the Olympics in 20 years or so. And we are very thankful for that,” sabi ni Puentevella. “We are also thankful to MVP Sports Foundation and Ayala Corporation for helping us.”

Sinabi naman ni PSC chairman William Ramirez na patuloy ang suporta ng ahensiya kay Diaz.

“Hidilyn was heaven-sent to Philippine sports. She inspires us all to work harder. We will continue to support her, the weightlifters and all the other athletes as we aspire to send more champions and winners to every podium,” ani Ramirez.