Diaz, Obiena ramp up training

MANILA, Philippines — Tokyo-bound Hidilyn Diaz and EJ Obiena have intensified their training going into the final stretch of training with a goal of winning an elusive Olympic gold.

“Even in quarantine, nagtre-training pa rin kami,” said Diaz, the 2016 Rio weightlifting silver medalist, during Friday’s online presser organized by long-time Philippine sports supporter Summit Natural Drinking Water.

“Dadagdagan intensity ng training mula sa dating 6-8 sessions a week magiging 7-9 o 8-10 na. Last three months na lang, so kailangang ibuhos na,” she added.

Obiena feels good with his own training, and he’s optimistic of his chance to deliver the country’s first Olympic medal in athletics since Filipino-American Miguel White claimed a 400m hurdles bronze in the 1936 Berlin Games.

“I feel good, I’m stronger and faster than I’ve ever been. It’s a very good place where I am right now and mentally, I just try to be as strong as I can be,” said the Southeast Asian Games pole vault gold medalist and record-holder.

Both Diaz and Obiena are fully backed by Summit as brand ambassadors.

And Summit has just reaffirmed commitment to support Philippine sports and Filipino athletes including those seeing action in Tokyo.

“We don’t have plans of stopping even though there are challenges. I think it’s pretty much the brand’s advocacy to support Filipino athletes,” said Asia Brewery Inc. marketing manager Jill Villanueva.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) deputy secretary-general and Philippine sepak takraw chief Karen Caballero lauded Summit for its continuous support to Filipino athletes.

“The POC can’t do it alone; it takes a lot of private sector support to do it, and we’re appreciative of Summit for being with us all these years. Summit has always been a teammate of the Philippine team for all these years,” said Caballero.