Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and Eileen Ando to join the Smart-Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas National Open Championships in Tagbiliran, Bohol where the SWP hopes to find new talents.
Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and fellow Olympian Elreen Ando joined the Smart-Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas National Open Championships which started Thursday until today in Tagbilaran, Bohol.
The two-day stint, sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, serves as her ticket to officially claim her spot on the national team and her first event since hinting at retirement from the sport after her #LastLift at Olympic glory in the 2024 Paris Games.
Diaz-Naranjo’s announcement of her #LastLift was a surprise for many as she bared her plans to focus on her newly built family with her coach Juilus Natanjo.
“Hidilyn will be performing on an exhibition basis,” said SWP president Monico Puentevella.
The National Open aims to discover more of the country’s talent with the likes of Asian senior and junior champion Vanessa Sarno and SEAG gold medalist Kristel Macrohon, both set for the 2024 Paris Olympics, while continental youth champion siblings Rose Jean and Rosegie Ramos are being groomed for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.
“We are searching for the next pool of future Olympians. We hope to find them here in the national open,’’ added Puentevella.
Naranjo and Aldo’s participation should also inspire over a hundred aspirants vying for a spot in the national team who may be seeing action in several international meets including 2023 Phnom Penh Southeast Asian and Games, 2023 Hangzou Asian Games and the fast approaching Asian Senior Championships in Manama, Bahrain next month and World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in December this year.
The open is mainly sponsored by PSC together with the MVP Sports Foundation with the opening ceremony headed by Tagbilaran Mayor Jane Yap and Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado.
A doping seminar sponsored by PSC under Dr. Alex Pineda also took place before the start of competition.
Tags: #weightlifting, #PSC, #olympics