Hidilyn Diaz seeks financial help for 2020 Olympic bid

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz on Monday took to social media to disclose her need for financial support as she prepares for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

"[Is it] okay to ask sponsorship sa mga private companies towards Tokyo 2020?" Diaz wrote in her Instagram story. "Hirap na hirap na ako. I need financial support."

She said she feels embarrassed to solicit funds from private companies but added she may have to swallow her pride to achieve her goal of winning for the Philippines a gold medal in the Olympics.

"Nahihiya kasi ako pero try ko kapalan ang mukha ko para sa minimithi kong pangarap para sa atin bansa na maiuwi ang Gold Medal sa Olympics," Diaz wrote.

In response to Diaz's appeal, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez said the government "has been very supportive" of her.

A PSC statement posted on Facebook quoted Ramirez as saying that the commission has given almost P4.5 million to fund her foreign training in Hainan and Guangxi in China.

Added to that, Ramirez said the PSC is also paying her foreign coach Kaiwen Gao's monthly salary and food allowance.

The statement also said Diaz's NSA's request for funding for competitions was also approved, and that a new weightlifting gym has just been constructed after she called attention to the old gym they were using."

"Hidilyn receives support from the PSC and the Philippine Airforce being an enlisted personnel," said Ramirez.

Diaz is a Philippine Air Force sergeant and Asian Games gold medalist in weightlifting. —KBK, GMA News