The second Hidylin Diaz Weightlifting Open Championships (HDWOC) promises to be even bigger than the first one that was staged last 2017. Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is coming in full-support of its advocacy to discover and harness potential weightlifters around the country.
Last year’s HDWOC drew 130 entries including Filipino weightlifters based in Guam, Hong Kong and the United States. This year, the event, fully backed-up by the country’s primary sports patron, Manny V. Pangilinan through its MVP Foundation, is expecting more.
“We expect a surge in the number of participants that’s why from two days, the tournament will now be three days” said tournament director Cyrus Cruz. Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentavella said the HDWOC will serve as a qualifying for the national team to the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Puentavella also announced the staging of a developmental and technical weightlifting seminar to be given to representatives from the different schools, colleges and universities nationwide including various organizations and even local governments.
Diaz, the country’s second silver medalist after boxer Onyok Velasco, aired her excitement over the tournament bearing her name and said this is just part of the legacy she wants to leave behind. She is contemplating to retire after the 2020 Olympics.
With additional reports from The Philippine Star
Photos: CrossFit Ortigas
