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Hidilyn Diaz gets P2-M aid to boost Olympic bid

By Jelly Musico

August 8, 2019, 10:06 pm

<p>Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz <em>(contributed photo)</em></p>

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz (contributed photo)

MANILA – Two months after taking to social media to solicit financial support for her Olympic bid, Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz cornered on Thursday a PHP2-million sponsorship to boost her preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

This, after Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go initiated a project that resulted in the signing of memorandum of agreement between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines to support Diaz's Olympic bid.

PSC chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez and Phoenix Vice President Raymond Zorilla signed the agreement in front of Diaz and other government officials in Malacañan Palace on Thursday afternoon.

Ramirez said Diaz, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, will be getting an initial package amounting to PHP2 million.

He said Diaz is also receiving PHP48,000-month allowance, housing and food, coach and foreign training allowance.

“For me, this is a big help because it’s difficult to prepare for Olympic Games. I’m so grateful for the help,” Diaz told the reporters.

Diaz, a silver medalist in the last year’s Asian Games, is hoping to win the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

“Gusto ko manalo (I want to win). I can’t do it alone. I need help from government. I need help from other people specialists. I just need prayers from Filipino people,” she added. (PNA)

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