WHILE newly-minted Tokyo Olympic Games medalist Hidylin Diaz is still thinking it over, boxers NesthyPetecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial are having no second thoughts of going through the process anew to qualify for the 2021 Paris Games.
Petecio, a silver medalist, was gung-ho about her own bid, saying “walang hinto hanggang ginto” yesterday in the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum.
“Hahabulinkita champ Hidy (Diaz’s nickname),” the country’s first Filipina Olympic boxing medalist said playfully, prompting the weightlifter to quickly reply: “Sige lang. Walang competition. We have to motivate each other.”
Diaz, who finally attained golden success in her fourth straight Olympic appearance that started when she made her debut at 17 at the 2008 Beijing Games, said she’s still in the process of deciding whether she would compete in Paris.
“Pinag-iisipan ko pa po. Kasi, additional three years of sacrifices po rin‘yan. Medyomahirap po kasi ‘yung preparations,” the 30-year-old Zamboanga City pride said. “Titingnan ko pa rin kung nasaan‘yung kaya ng katawaan ko, sakakung kaya ng coaches na mag-sakripisyo.
“At the end of the day, dapattingnan‘yung mindset. Anduon pa rinba, ang pagmamahal (sa weightlifting) nandun pa rinba. ‘Yung sakripisyonakailangan.”
She said among the changes that might take place is the transition in her present coaching staff, with Chinese Gao Kaiwen being retained as a consultant while her Guamanian boyfriend and fitness coach Julius Naranjo takes over as the head mentor.
Diaz said that Gao, who had been with her since last year when they trained in Malaysia, had returned home to his family in China. She said Gao’s services would likely be in much demand in producing an Olympic weightlifting champion.
“Grateful akosa lahat ng oras, knowledge at tulongniya for Tokyo 2020. Grateful ako kay (Philippine Sports Commission) Chairman Butch Ramirez nainaprubnila‘yung contract ni coach Gao since 2018,” Diaz noted. “Malakingtulongniyasaakin, lalonasapagpanalo ko ng gold medal.
“Pero dapat kung intindihinna he has to be with his family. Gagawinnaminsi coach Gao na consultant tapossi coach Julius ay gagawing head coach. Hahanap kami ng assistant coach natutulongsa kanya.”
She said she intends to see action in the World Weightlifting Championships in Lima, Peru later this year as well as the Hangzhou Asian Games in November 2022 before deciding if she would continue her athletic career.
