Diaz, pals get big lift from PSC

MANILA, Philippines — In pursuit of the country’s first Olympic gold, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has continuously bankrolled the campaign of Filipinos eyeing slots to the Tokyo Games despite the pandemic.

One of those enjoying the PSC’s full support is the Hidilyn Diaz-led weightlifting team to the Asian Weightlifting Championships that unfurled yesterday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The PSC has coughed up P4.9 million for the lifters’ participation in the 10-day event, aside from the additional P1 million for Diaz’ personal staff of Chinese coach Kaiwen Gao and a conditioning assistant, who flew from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where they have trained for over a year now.

The rest of the team, including 2019 SEA Games gold medalist Kristel Macrohon, Vanessa Sarno, John Fabuar Ceniza, Elreen Ann Ando, Mary Flor Diaz, Margaret Colonia, John Dexter Tabique and Elien Rose Perez, arrived in Tashkent from Manila last Tuesday.

The 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist only needs to complete a lift in Tashkent to automatically qualify to the Tokyo Games and join gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.

“It was never a question of supporting them or not, because we will as much as we can,” said PSC chairman William Ramirez.

The PSC has also financed triathlon’s participation in the 2021 Asia Triathlon Championships set April 23-25 in Hatsukaichi, Japan with an almost P1 million in assistance.