The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is gearing up for various Olympic qualifying events as it aims to duplicate its success in the Tokyo Summer Games in 2021.

SWP president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE on New Year’s Day that the national weightlifters are looking to put on an impressive showing once the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) announces the final schedule for the Olympic qualifiers. 

The Olympic qualifiers are tentatively scheduled for December 2026 — two years before the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“We’re ready for the Olympic qualifying rounds this new year. Two more years of sweat and agony for our lifters and we’re ready for the ultimate challenge,” Puentevella said in a telephone conversation. 

“Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games are merely stepping stones. The Olympics are always our goal. Let God do the rest.”

The Philippines is looking to make up for its 1-1-1 gold-silver-bronze medal tally in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand last December.

Aside from the 20th Asiad in Japan from 19 September to 4 October, the Filipino lifters will join other major international events in 2026 like the Asian Weightlifting Championships from 1 to 6 April in Ahmedabad, India and the IWF World Championships from 27 October to 8 November in Ningbo, China.

Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando are expected to banner the country in Olympic qualifiers as well as Albert Ian delos Santos and Rosegie Ramos. 

Unfortunately for SWP, Paris Olympians Vanessa Sarno and John Ceniza won’t compete in international tournaments after getting slapped with a two-year ban by the International Testing Agency.