Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo will lead athletes who will see action in the 2023 National Weightlifting Championships set at SM City Bacolod from July 10 to 16.
As of Friday, some 200 weightlifters from across the country are expected to compete.
Samahang Weightlifting Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said the tournament will serve as the national tryouts for the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
“This will be a showdown. If you want to see Hidilyn in competition, come in the afternoon of July 13,” he added.
Puentevella said Diaz-Naranjo, the first Filipino to win an Olympic gold medal, still wants to qualify for her fifth Olympiad.
Also expected to compete in the national championships is Olympian Elreen Ann Ando, who set a new record and bagged the gold in the women’s 59kg class of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in May this year.
The week-long tournament will start with a seminar on July 10 while the competitions will kick off on July 11.*PNA