SWP President Monico Puentevella delivers a speech through the Nationwide Weightlifting Championships in Cebu in 2024. | CDN file picture
CEBU CITY, Philippines — After robust lobbying efforts final 12 months, weightlifting has lastly made its approach again to the Palarong Pambansa 2025 in Ilocos Norte—however with a caveat.
The Division of Training (DepEd) and the Palarong Pambansa board just lately introduced the inclusion of weightlifting on this 12 months’s meet, although it has but to be a part of the 34 common sports activities.
Final 12 months, the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP), led by President Monico Puentevella, actively pushed for the game’s reinstatement.
Paradoxically, regardless of being certainly one of solely two sports activities—alongside gymnastics—which have delivered Olympic gold medals for the Philippines, weightlifting was faraway from Palaro a long time in the past.
Amongst those that competed within the sport earlier than its elimination have been nationwide crew coach Ramon Solis and Antonio Agustin Jr. Weightlifting was phased out within the Eighties on account of an absence of contributors and correct gear on the time.
Nevertheless, Hidilyn Diaz’s historic Olympic gold medal in 2021 reignited efforts to carry weightlifting again to the nationwide school-based meet.
Earlier this month, DepEd introduced that weightlifting, kickboxing, and pole vault can be featured in Palarong Pambansa 2025.
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Pole vault is now an official occasion underneath athletics, largely influenced by world-ranked Olympian EJ Obiena, who just lately gained gold on the Copernicus Cup in Europe.
In the meantime, kickboxing shall be staged as an exhibition sport, whereas weightlifting will debut as a demo sport—a key step towards full reinstatement within the Palaro.
Regardless of its present standing, many stay optimistic that weightlifting will quickly regain its place as an everyday sport within the Palarong Pambansa. /clorenciana
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