With the first ever Olympic gold of the Philippines coming from weightlifting, courtesy of Zamboanga’s pride Hidilyn Diaz, the provincial government of Negros Occidental is ready to include the event in its sports program, provincial administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
He said Samahan ng Weightlifting sa Pilipinas president and former Bacolod mayor and congressman Monico Puentevella had previously donated “state of the art equipment” to the provincial government.
Diaz said the weightlifting equipment are being kept at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office at the Panaad Park in Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod and are being used temporarily by the PDRRMO staff.
“This is the event (weightlifting) that delivered the gold medal to the country, so most likely, more Filipinos are now interested in this sport,” Diaz said.
He added that they introduce weightlifting to Negrense athletes in addition to the other previously identified sports events.
Diaz believes that Filipinos, particularly Negrenses, can learn the training program of Hidilyn Diaz.
He added that with Puentevella as SWP president is a bonus for Bacolod City and Negros Occidental.
“The whole province shares in the pride and joy of the Filipino nation in this first Olympic gold medal in 97 years,” Diaz said, adding that they will talk with Puentevella on how to develop programs for weightlifting as soon as he returns to Bacolod. — MML
