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    Hidilyn success inspires a wave of future world beaters

    PH coach sees 'future Hidilyn Diazes' in promising pool
    May 17, 2023
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    PHOTO: SPIN.ph

    PHNOM PENH — Toni Agustin can easily spot a talent when the veteran weightlifting coach sees one.

    Philippine weightlifting owes much to Agustin, who continues to nurture teenaged lifters, along with coaches from different parts of the country, in a determined effort to produce another Olympic champion like Hidilyn Diaz.

    “Our main goal is to build young lifters for the Olympics,’’ said Agustin, one of the central figures in the development of Diaz from a shy kid from Zamboanga City to an Olympic heroine.

    READ: Vanessa Sarno wins gold in record-breaking fashion

    “If we win at the youth level, these victories should be sustained in the junior and senior levels. If we can achieve that, chances are strong that we can win the Olympics,’’ added Agustin.

    Under Agustin’s guidance at the national level and the support of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Sports Commission, the national weightlifting squad has put together an abundant pool of promising talent.

    Teenagers Angeline Colonia (women’s 45kg), Lovely Inan (49kg) and Rosalinda Tabique (55kg) landed silver medals as first-timers in these Games.

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    Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando reset the records in the women’s 59kg with a golden performance while former Asian champion 19-year-old Vanessa Sarno ruled the 71kg class while breaking her own SEAG record in the snatch.

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    “These kids all got inspired when Hidi (Diaz) won a silver in (the 2016) Rio (De Janeiro Olympics). Suddenly, our sport became bigger with more and more people getting interested,’’ said Agustin.

    Overall, Team Philippines netted two gold and four silver medals as well as one bronze at the close of weightlifting competitions on Tuesday with John Ceniza (men’s 61kg) accounting for a silver and John Tabique securing a bronze in the men’s 89kg.

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    According to Agustin, the country’s young lifters never stopped training even during the pandemic and since they couldn’t go out, the SWP’s network of coaches nationwide brought the lifting equipment to their homes.

    “These kids saw how Hidi became successful with all the hard work, the passion and dedication. That’s how motivated they are,’’ said Agustin.

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