The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (Association of Weightlifting in the Philippines) has received new equipment from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The PSC sent new barbell sets to Cebu, Angono, Bohol, and Zamboanga City where the national weightlifters have been training since the pandemic started.
According to 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver and bronze medalists Margaret Colonia and Mary Flor Diaz, they now have a very different training experience compared to the time when they did not have any new apparatus.
“Dati po nakukulangan po kami sa plates and hindi po kami sabay-sabay nagte-training. Ngayon po hindi na kulang (Back then, we were short on plates and we could not train simultaneously. But now, there is enough),” Colonia noted.
“Dati naga-adjust kami kasi may mga equipment na sira. Ngayon may bago na kaming magagamit. Nakaka-high morale (We used to adjust to our damaged equipment. Now, we have new ones to use. It really boosts our morale),” Diaz said.
The arrival of the new equipment gave inspiration to the young people in Zamboanga.
“Nag-unbox kasi kami ng mga equipment. Nakita ko sa kanila ang saya-saya nila. First time nila gagamit ng mga bagong plates (We unboxed the equipment. I could see how happy they were. It’s their first time to use new plates),” Diaz added.
National Team Head Coach Tony Agustin said five out of nine athletes who will be figuring in the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships will compete in the last Tokyo Olympic qualifier, among them Mary Flor Diaz, Kristel Macrohon, Elreen Ann Ando, and John Ceniza Febuar. They will be led by 2016 Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz. – Report by Khay Asuncion/JBB-jlo
