By NICK GIONGCO
JAKARTA – The Filipino gold medalists in the 2018 Asian Games have one thing in common.
They are all competing under the banner of the country’s premier sports patron: Manny V. Pangilinan.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the producer of the country’s first gold medal here, golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go and skateboader Margie Didal, are expected to receive an abundance of support from the MVPSF following their head-turning performance.
Diaz is hoping to compete in her last Olympic Game in Tokyo two years from now.
Four years ago, Diaz made history in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil by winning a silver medal – the first by a Filipina athlete in the quadrennial sportsfest.
MVPSF has been supporting Diaz’s tournament since winning the Olympic silver.
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) secretary general Patrick Gregorio said the four are on track with the POC’s vision for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“We will look after them,” said Gregorio, noting that the obscure Didal had been on the POC’s radar screen all the time.
“She had simple wishes and we gave what she wanted,” said Gregorio.
Didal’s mother — Julyiana – sells street food like “kwek-kwek” and “tempura” outside a church in Cebu City.
Her father, Julito, 50, is a construction worker.
Didal ruled the street event in the co-host city of Palembang last Wednesday and for her feat, the Cebu-bred athlete will carry the Philippine flag during the closing ceremonies set Sunday at the 88,000-capacity Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.