DIAZ COMING TO CEBU

The Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz manages to smile as she competes in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta./inquirer.net

Asian Games gold medalist in town on Sept. 1, says CWA

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who gave the Philippines its first gold medal in the ongoing 18th Asian Games in Indonesia last Tuesday, is scheduled to visit Cebu on Sept. 1.

According to Cebu Weightlifting Association president Felix “Boy” Tiukinhoy, the weightlifting ambassador has committed to coming to Cebu for the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the CWA and Pio Solon of the Epic Performance and Fitness Center.

Diaz is helping the CWA in developing talents among the locals and Solon had offered his services for free for the strength and conditioning of the athletes who will become part of the program.

“This is good because we will have a strength and conditioning program for our weightlifters. It cannot be all just lifting, they will also need conditioning,” said Tiukinhoy.

If time permits, Tiukinhoy said he would like to bring Diaz to the Sisters of Mary School (SMS) Boystown in Tungkop, Minglanilla, Cebu.

The CWA is making the SMS Boystown the pilot school for its grassroots training program to which the school’s local superior, Sr. Emelan Lee, has already agreed to.

According to Tiukinhoy, the CWA will provide equipment and a coach for the training, while the SMS Boystown will provide an area for the training and to store the equipment.

The CWA president also hopes to visit the SMS Girlstown campus with Diaz.

Meanwhile, Tiukinhoy reiterated that the CWA will affiliate with whoever the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will recognize as the National Sports Association for weightlifting.

“We will abide by the rules. Whoever will be recognized by the POC and PSC, we will be under their umbrella,” said Tiukinhoy.