THE Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) intends to tap a Chinese coach to guide the associations up-and-coming athletes most of who won 15 gold medals at the just-concluded Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent.
SWP President Monico Puentevella said the present crop of weightlifters need a Chinese coach to prepare them for qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympics, the same path Hidilyn Diaz took before winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo exactly a year ago on Tuesday.
Puentevella said the SWP request for a Chinese coach was aleady approved by the previous Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board chaired by William “Butch” Ramirez.
But to get his request implemented, the request needs the imprimatur of the incoming PSC board.
“We are hoping the incoming PSC board will do the same on our request,” said Puentevella, who graced the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum from Baguio City where he’ll be one of the principal sponsors in Diaz’s wedding with her coach, Julius Naranjo.
Puentevella said his trust remains with Chinese coaches. Gao Kaiwen coached Diaz for almost two years and the result was remarkable.
“Seven of the eight Chinese athletes in Tokyo won a gold medal, except for one, Liao Qiuyun, who Hidilyn beat in the 55 kgs category,” Puentevella told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, Unilever and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
Diaz announced her intentions on qualifying anew for Paris 2024 but will be targeting the 59 kgs category with Naranjo as her coach.
Puentevella said he will negotiate with either the Chinese Embassy or his counterpart at the Chinese weightlifting federation on the Chinese coach.
“But he must speak and understand English like Gao,” he said.
Asian and Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Vanessa Sarno, SEA Games gold winner Kristel Macrohon, Elreen Ando, Mary Flor Diaz, sisters Rose Jean and Rosegie Ramos and Rosalindo Faustino and Angeline Colonia broke the Asian and world record in the continental championships at the Uzbekistan capital.
Puentevella said the Philippines will bid for the hosting next year of the World Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, which Bogota is hosting this December.