The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) sees a bright future following the sport’s inclusion in the Palarong Pambansa as a demonstration sport.

SWP president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE the inclusion of the sport will be a big boost in their future Olympic bids now that each local government unit (LGU) will be forming their teams.

Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz made the announcement last Wednesday since weightlifting will be featured in this prestigious multi-sport tournament for elementary and high school athletes handled by the Department of Education (DepEd).

“We have nothing to lose here and everything to gain. Now LGUs will have to help promote the sport that gave the very first Olympic gold medal for this country,” Puentevella said.

“With the help of DepEd, and given enough budget for the LGUs, believe me, we will see more gold medals for the Philippines in the Olympic Games.”

“Well, it was Hidilyn and I who have been working for this all these years. So I would like to thank the Senator Sonny Angara, for finally allowing weightlifting in Palaro.”

This year’s Palaro will be held in Laoag, Ilocos Norte from 24 May to 2 June.

A successful staging of weightlifting in the Palaro could potentially make it into one of the regular sports, giving the SWP more options discover talents apart from the Batang Pinoy.

Puentevella predicts Regions VI, VII and IX will bring out their best lifters due to their experience in the sport.

Cebu, where Olympic lifters Elreen Ando and John Ceniza came from, and Vanessa Sarno, who hails from Bohol, are all in Region VII.

Diaz, who was born and raised in Zamboanga City, is from Region IX.

“The ones who will fight here for medals will be Zamboanga, Cebu, Bohol, and hopefully, Negros Occidental. That’s why we are training now,” Puentevella said.

Puentevella said they are discussing which weight categories will be put in place for this year’s Palaro.

“We are studying the weight categories that will be presented. The elementary division will have lighter weights since they’re kids,” Puentevella said.

“But in high school, expect the weights to be heavier because this is where the LGUs will fight for medals.”