ACTING swiftly on the plea of Cebu-based weightlifter Elreen Ann Ando, the Philippine Sports Commission has approved the immediate release of P268,597 for her build-up to the Tokyo Olympic Games next month.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa malaking tulong pong ito na ibinigay ng PSC,” Ando said yesterday in a press conference from Cebu together with coach Ramon Solis, weightlifting chairman Mark Alino and University of Cebu athletic director Jessica Honorides, whose institution has been supporting the athlete.
“Malaki nga pong tulong ito for Elreen. We really want her to be competitive for Tokyo,” Solis, a former national athlete and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, said.
The PSC support was done through the initiative of Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, who is presently Cebu and also joined the online briefing.
The assistance from the government sports agency came three days after Ando, who qualified for the Tokyo Games in the women’s 64kg division over the weekend through the International Weightlifting Federation Absolute Ranking List slot for Asia, told Malaya-Business Insight of her plight.
“First of all we would like to congratulate Elreen for being another Cebuano to qualify for the Tokyo Olympic Games after skateboarder Margielyn Arda Didal. The PSC will always be there to fully support our Olympic-bound campaigners,” Fernandez said.
