Hidilyn Diaz to lead CWA's 'Learn the Basic Weightlifting' seminar

CEBU, Philippines — Olympic silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz will lead the "Learn the Basic Weightlifting" seminar spearheaded by the Cebu Weightlifting Association (CWA) on May 30 at the Cebu  City Sports Center.

Diaz, who ended the Philippines' 20-year medal brought in the Olympics by winning silver medal in women's weighlifting event during the quadrennial meet two years ago in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, will talk on the fundamentals of the sport.

Diaz will be joined by CWA Secretary General Jude Sulla, who will take up officiating and technicalities of the sport, and Angelica Lado of Epic Performance and Fitness, who will discuss about strength and conditioning.

The one-day free seminar will be participated in by weightlifting coaches and athletes who are members of  the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI). Five schools have already confirmed to send representatives namely University of Cebu, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of the Visayas and University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

"We want to educate the coaches and the athletes as well as expanding weightlifting nationwide," said Diaz, who swept her events just two nigth ago in the Philippine National Games (PNG) weightlifting held at the Enan Chiong Activity Center in the City of Naga. "I have done several clinics before but this is the first time wherein we will include an introduction and the technical aspect of the sport."

Diaz shared that it is one of her dreams that weightlifting will be recognized and included as an official sport in various national competitions in the country.

"Isa sa pangarap ko talaga maipasok ang weightlifting sa Palarong Pambansa, UAAP, NCAA. Itong seminar na 'to, isang step 'to na sana maipasok na namin," said Diaz, who is also CWA's Program Ambassadress.

CWA President Felix "Boy" O. Tiukinhoy, Jr., for his part, expressed that they are initiating the efforts to bring the sport in the limelight.

"For so many years, nothing happened for weightlifting. So what we will do now is we will be the one to organize grassroots programs at the same time train students from the universities for weightlifting. In the next five years, we will have a competitive student-athletes that will represent us in various international school competitions," said Tiukinhoy, who is also the commissioner of  the CESAFI, during the press launch of  the CWA weighlifting seminar at Osting's Restaurant in Naga yesterday.

On the other hand, Tiukinhoy revealed that weighlifting is now an official sport in the CESAFI this year.

"Weightlifting now is an official event in the CESAFI. Last year, it was just a demo sport but now we have included it and we have participating schools already from UC, USC, USJ-R, UV and USPF."

For interested participants, one may visit the Facebook page of Cebu Weightlifting Association, Move to Inspire and Hidilyn Diaz page. (FREEMAN)