Tokyo 2020 bid PSC to help Diaz keep her promise to Duterte
THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will hold Rio Olympics weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz accountable to what she promised President Rodrigo R. Duterte during a courtesy call at the Presidential Guest House in Panacan, Davao City early this month that she will train and eye for the gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, in a media briefing at the PSC conference room Tuesday afternoon in Manila, issued the statement considering that the 25-yearold Diaz has become an instant celebrity and has been to a series of guestings in different radio and TV programs since she arrived from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Last night she was Boy Abunda's guest in Tonight with Boy Abunda aired over ABS-CBN where Diaz bared that she would want Angel Locsin to play her character if a story on her will be filmed.
Ramirez said, "Sana lang hindi sya mag-aartista (laughs)", adding that they are responsible for her being a national athlete who is receiving salary from the national government through the PSC. Diaz also holds quarters at the PSC dormitory with other national athletes from various sports.
"I will really hold her accountable. Sinabi nya kay Presidente na maglalaro sya sa Tokyo at sisikaping makuha ang ginto. We will help her and take care of her through her journey to Tokyo. She will just be 29 by then, kaya pa nyang magbuhat. But in the end, it will depend on her," the PSC chief said.
He added that they will send Diaz to foreign trainings and exposures as she prepares for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Malaysia next year, 2019 Asian Games in Indonesia, 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines and in Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga City, however, remained consistent in her pronouncements that she will train her way to earn another spot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
"Syempre ginto po," Diaz said of her goal in the next Olympics during an interview with Sun.Star Davao, August 8.
But she hopes to retire after Tokyo then put up her own weightlifting gym in Manila where she will focus on training young weightlifters at the same time manage the business side of it. Diaz added that though she wants to become a weightlifting coach when she retires, she would also want to have her own gym that could also be a source of livelihood for her and her family.