Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and coach Julius Naranjo. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
MANILA – Five years since winning the country's first Olympic gold medal, Hidilyn Diaz and coach Julius Naranjo are bringing a world-class weightlifting competition to the country.
The tournament dubbed 'HD LiftOff' is officially happening next month, as the couple aims to raise more awareness and bring weightlifting closer to the general public.
Diaz said there's no better time to hold the competition, especially as she marked five years since her historic feat at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"Para sa akin, it's about time na magkaroon na ng weightlifting competition na magandang platform, nasa maayos na venue. Kasi tayo yung first eh. Weightlifting yung first eh. Weightlifting yung first na naka-gold sa Olympics eh," Diaz told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday in Mandaluyong City.
"We need to spread the sport, yung awareness about the sport. And the way is gagawin yung laro sa Glorietta para mas marami makakaintindi, maraming mas makakita," she added.
READ: Hidilyn Diaz sees potential in young lifters as weightlifting becomes regular Palaro sport
Diaz said her gold medal was one way to raise more awareness for weightlifting. But she believes holding a world-class tournament at home will take it a step further.
"Okay nanalo ako ng gold medal sa Olympics. Lahat ba alam kung ano yung snatch and clean and jerk? Alam ba nila kung ano yung weightlifting? Alam lang nila weightlifting ay si Hidilyn Diaz yan. Pero hindi nila alam yung rules ng weightlifting," she explained.
"Ngayon, we're showcasing it to everyone oh pwede din kayo maging malakas sa weightlifting by giving them additional platform to excel. Para din makita nila yung ganda ng weightlifting," Diaz added.
Naranjo, who is HD Weightlifting Academy head coach, said HD LiftOff aims to expose aspiring weightlifters to international standards, while promoting the sport can be for all.
"It's more of just being inclusive. I want everyone to see that weightlifting is open to anyone. Anyone can do weightlifting. It's not just a certain demographic of people that can do it. I want to also show that we can bring international level or international standard weightlifting competitions here in the Philippines," he said.
"We're trying to show that weightlifting can be for any age. And we do have masters here and we have the under 12. Which I think will be very exciting for the people to see that oh yun pala pwede bata," Naranjo said.
HD Weightlifting Academy Education Director Coach Flip Corpus said they aim to set the standard for weightlifting competitions in the country.
"We kinda always felt na sayang kasi we already have an Olympic gold in the sport. But our competitions here at not at the international standard. We have world champions, we have youth champions right here," he said.
"We're building all these future generations but we don't have the support for it. How come basketball, volleyball, all these get an international stage? We just couldn't wait. If we are to wait for somebody else to do this pa, baka matanda na kami. While we're here, we'll take the risk," Corpus added.
READY FOR HD LIFTOFF
With a little over two weeks until HD LiftOff, Diaz said it's all systems go for the competition which was just a dream a few years ago.
At least 130 weightlifters are expected to participate in the competition next month.
HD LiftOff will feature youth, open/overall, and master categories with male and female divisions, applying the new International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) weight classes.
Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in Total only for each bodyweight category, while the Top 3 athletes scores based on Sinclar for the youth.
"Medyo mahaba-habang preparasyon ito for HD LiftOff. Unang-una ito eh. Akala nga namin hindi matuloy dahil sa krisis. Pero ngayon we only have two weeks lang so excited kami. So lahat naman ready na," she said.
"We’re expecting 130 athletes for the two-day events. So masaya, na-eexcite kami. Kinakabahan din kasi first time ito. Masaya kami makita yung mga bata at iba-ibang klaseng atleta na nagbubuhat ng barbell," Diaz shared.
Naranjo said they are expecting athletes not just from the Philippines, but also Southeast Asian countries and other nearby nations.
"We have a few countries that will be from abroad. Like Singapore. I saw Hong Kong. Guam. There are quite a bit of countries. I think we might have Malaysia, possibly. So, mostly Southeast Asian countries. But we do have some U.S. territories or other countries from abroad that are joining. Hopefully, next year, we'll have more countries that can join," he shared.
LIFTING UP OTHERS FOR THE FUTURE
In bringing international standards and technical officials, Diaz believes this experience will help both athletes and coaches who are aiming to compete on the world stage.
"Napaka-importante yun na ma-experience ng bawat atleta or nang maglalaro sa HD LiftOff. Kasi kung ma-experience nila ito dito, pag dating nila sa international podium hindi na sila yung ah ganito ba yun? Meron na dito," she explained.
"So dito palang may competition, may ganitong standard na tayo. Pag dating doon sa international, expert na tayo. Or hindi na tayo maninibago," Diaz added.
The Olympic gold medalist believes HD LiftOff will help continue the momentum of spreading weightlifting, following the inclusion of the sport as a regular event in the Palarong Pambansa.
"I'm so happy that weightlifting is spreading all over the Philippines. And now, we're adding additional platforms for them to excel. And para sa akin masaya na yung sports sa iba-ibang region na. And now, we're opening more doors for them," Diaz said.
"So, at least masasabi ko na nanalo ako ng gold. And I see some, not some, I see progress sa sport natin. Sa sports ng weightlifting," she shared.
The HD LiftOff weightlifting competition will take place from August 15 to 16 at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
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