The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is determined to complete its Philippine National Weightlifting Championships and assemble its squad for the 20th Asian Games.

SWP president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE that the federation has yet to announce a new schedule for its national tryouts after they were postponed due to an earthquake in General Santos City last 8 June.

While the federation already has a pool of athletes, Puentevella wants to make sure that those competing in Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October will be the best available.

“Because of the problem with the earthquake in GenSan, we are going to have another tryout, going around and looking at the athletes who are eligible for the Asian Games,” Puentevella said in a phone conversation.

“We’re already ready, but they need more exposure before we reach Japan. We want them to compete elsewhere aside from Japan. We want them to try out first.”

“We have already submitted our list, but we still want to verify who are the most deserving.”

Even with the competition postponed, Puentevella said the Filipino lifters continue to train and vowed to hold the selection as early as July.

“We never stop training, even if they go back to their provinces, because we have international events coming up like the World Youth and Junior Championships,” Puentevella said.

“We have the IWF Olympic qualifying in November, so we never stop training. We will continue even if we were disrupted by the earthquake in GenSan.”

The Philippines will have to improve after bringing home only one medal in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023.

Two-time Olympian Elreen Ando took home the bronze medal after recording a total lift of 222 kilograms in the women’s 64-kilogram category.