The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is excited to see the country’s best young lifters in action when they compete in the Palarong Pambansa for the first time ever in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte starting this Saturday.

SWP president Monico Puentevella said around 60 lifters from all over the country will compete for glory as weightlifting makes its much-anticipated debut as a demonstration sport in Palarong Pambansa — the prestigious annual sportsfest for elementary and secondary students.

“Right now, we have around 60 young lifters competing and this is the first step of a thousand miles,” Puentevella said in a text message.

“Thanks to (Department of Education) Secretary and my kumpadre Sonny Angara for allowing weightlifting for the very first time in Palaro. I would also like to thank Hidilyn (Diaz) and her husband Julius (Naranjo) for helping initiate the sport in Palaro.”

The inclusion of weightlifting has been considered as a no-brainer after the sport gave the country its first ever gold medal in the Olympic games.

Diaz, a product of the Batang Pinoy program from Zamboanga, emerged as the country’s first Olympic gold medalist after conquering the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting event in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Elreen Ando is also a champion in her own right, setting a new Southeast Asian Games record in the women’s 59-kg event in the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, igniting the calls for weightlifting’s inclusion in the Palarong Pambansa.

Puentevella said he wants to see the victorious athletes from the Palaro to see action in the Smart SWP National Open in Dumaguete City in July.

“Come July, we shall also have the Smart SWP National Open in Dumaguete as a follow-up to the kids now in Palaro,” Puentevella said.

“Let the games begin.”