SAMAHANG Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella is backing the suggestion of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz for the inclusion of the sport to the calendar of collegiate leagues and in the Palarong Pambansa.
“Now that we have an Olympic gold, I’d like to reiterate our appeal to (Education) Secretary (Leonor) Briones na pagbalik ng Palaro, isama na ang weightlifting,” Puentevella said last Tuesday in the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
“Tumawag at nag-explain ako, pero nag-pandemya at nawalan tayo ng Palaro for two years. Magkano lang (ang pag-stage ng weightlifting), P500,000 sa lahat ng local government. May record na kami na kaya (mag-medalya),” he added.
The weightlifting chief and former Bacolod mayor also said he reached out to the UAAP after Diaz bagged a silver in the 2016 Rio Games.
“Three to four years ago, kami ni Hidilyn nakiusap sa UAAP through Rod Roque (University of the East athletic director and Board of Managing Directors member),” Puentevella said in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Go For Gold, Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., and powered by Smart and Upstream Media as official webcast partner.
“Sumulat kami pero ang sabi kailangan daw apat o lima (schools) ang sumali. Na-frustrate ako kasi wala namang nangyari.”
The UAAP and NCAA said they are mulling the inclusion of weightlifting and boxing in their calendars for now.
Puentevella hopes Diaz’s historic gold in Tokyo will pave the way for collegiate leagues and the Palaro to include the sport to their roster.
