by Waylon Galvez
Weightlifting – just like other Olympic Sports – is also about timing and technique – so it’s paramount for the national team to undergo training camp abroad to enhance its medal chances for the coming SEA Games.
Toni Agustin, one of veteran mentors in the national weightlifting team, believes the team’s two-month training in China starting this week bodes well in its title bid in the SEA Games which the country will be hosting late this year.
Already training at the Wushishan Sports Training Center in China is Rio Games silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz.
Like Diaz and the 9 other Philippine team members will see action in the Asian Championship on April 17 to 28 in Ningbo, China then possibly in the World Championships in Thailand.
Diaz has been training there for almost two months now and she believes she will have what it takes to become a medal contender in the Asian and World championship.
After the Asian tourney, the PH team members – with the exception of Diaz – will also train at the Wushishan Sports Training Center not only to gain more techniques but also improve their confidence.
“They’ll definitely improve their timing and technique in the training camp, that’s what they develop during their stay there,” said Agustin yesterday.
“Some of the athletes that will go there are first timers, so it’s going to be important for them, this training camp. The discipline they would develop, from training to food they’ll eat, all of these are important when competition comes,” he added.
In the Asian tilt, Diaz will compete in the 55 kilogram in the Asian championship, Mary Flor Diaz in 45kg, Rosegie Ramos in the 49kg, Margaret Colonia 59kg, Elreen Anne Ando 64kg and Kristel Macrohon 71kg in the women’s category.
In the men’s, Jan Pabuar in the 55kg, Nestor Colonia in the 61kg, Jeff Garcia in the 67kg and Jones Buda in the 81kg.
Agustin said that of the 10 weightlifters, six are possible podium finishers in the Asian Championship.
