Hidilyn Diaz gets P2-M sponsorship for 2020 Olympics preparations

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s dream of clinching the Philippines’ first gold Olympic medal has been given a huge boost.

On Thursday, Diaz went to Malacañang for the signing of a P2-million sponsorship agreed upon by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc.

The agreement stipulates that Diaz may use the P2 million as housing allowance, food allowance, strength and conditioning coach allowance, local transportation allowance, overseas training allowance.

The 28-year-old military airwoman may also use the money for training uniform and equipment, competition uniform and equipment and contingency fund.

Diaz expressed her appreciation for the sponsorhip.

“Malaking bagay yun kasi maglalaro ako sa Olympics, and there’s a lot of competition that I need to compete in preparation towards Olympics. Medyo mahirap, so may core team ako and I’m so grateful for the help, for the support they’ve given,” she said.

Diaz, who won a silver medal in weightlifting in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June acknowledged her need for financial support in order to train for the 2020 Games in Tokyo and other competitions.

[Is it] okay to ask sponsorship sa mga private companies towards Tokyo 2020?" she asked in an Instagram post.

"Hirap na hirap na ako. I need financial support," she added. "[N]ahihiya kasi ako pero try ko kapalan ang mukha ko para sa minimithi kong pangarap para sa ating bansa na maiuwi ang Gold Medal sa Olympics."

PSC Chairperson William “Butch” Ramirez, however, said the commission had 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.

He also said the request for funding for competitions was also approved and that a new weightlifting gym was constructed after she called attention to the old gym they were using.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was present at the sponsorship signing ceremony, said he reached out to the private sector after learning about Diaz’s plea for financial help.

“Malaki ang potensyal ng batang ’to. Sayang ang talento ni Hidilyn kung hindi natin bigyan ng buong suporta,” he said.

Diaz is the first Filipino woman to win a medal in the Olympic Games. She also gave the Philippines its first gold in the 2018 Asian Games held in Indonesia. — BM, GMA News