Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz leads Philippine Sportswriters Association's 2021 awardees

The country's first Olympic gold medalist and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz headlines this year's recognized figures at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night on Monday in Manila.

Hidilyn Diaz was named as 2021 Athlete of the Year following her historic achievement in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Aside from Diaz, fellow Tokyo Olympians Carlos Yulo (gymnastics) and Yuka Saso (golf) will also be recognized. The two will receive the President's Award for their international achievements, with Yulo bagging a gold and a silver medal in the World Gymnastics Championships and with Saso winning the US Women's Open title.

Hoops legends Ramon Fernandez and Robert Jaworski, meanwhile, will be awarded with the PSA Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to Philippine basketball.

Philippine Olympic Committee president and Cavite Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino will receive the Executive of the Year Award for the Philippines' most successful finish in the Summer Games and guiding the country to its first Olympic gold.

Major Awards will be given to Olympic medalists and boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial, US Open title holder Carlo Biado (billiards), and professional boxers who held world titles such as Nonito Donaire, Jr., John Riel Casimero, and Jerwin Ancajas. The recognition will also be given to world no. 5 pole vaulter EJ Obiena and Junior Grand Slam title holder Alex Eala.

The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas and the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines will be awarded the National Sports Association of the Year Award for their achievement in the Tokyo Olympics.

Philippine Sports Commission chair Butch Ramirez will be given the Excellence in Leadership Award for leading the sports agency during the country's first Olympic gold, most successful Summer Games, four gold medals in the 2018 Asian Games, and being overall champions in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Citations will also be given to the other members of the Philippine delegation to the Tokyo Games such as Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), Irish Magno (boxing), Bianca Pagdanganan and Juvic Pagunsan (golf), Elreen Ando (weightlifting), Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie (swimming), Kristina Knott (track and field), Cris Nievarez (rowing), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), and Jayson Valdez (shooting). Asian weightlifting gold medalist Vanessa Sarno and paralympians Ernie Gawilan, Gary Bejino, Jerrold Mangliwan, Allain Ganapin, Jeanette Aceveda, and Achelle Guion will also be cited.

—JMB, GMA News