MANILA, Philippines — After another banner year, Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas will be presented with a special honor in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Annual Awards Night.
The federation once more will receive the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year award from the country’s oldest media organization following its successful campaigns in the Southeast Asian region all the way to the worlds anchored on Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
The 32-year-old Diaz stamped her class in the 88th IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota, Colombia with a three-gold sweep of the women’s 55kg class. It was a fitting follow-up to last year’s historic feat when she gave the country its first Olympic gold during the Tokyo Games.
For her back-to-back triumphs, the pride of Zamboanga City will receive the PSA Athlete of the Year award for the second straight time.
Can the SWP be far behind?
In the wake of Diaz’s Olympic feat, the federation was likewise named NSA of the Year in 2021 along with the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), the same it will receive by its lonesome in the March 6 gala night at the grand ballroom of the Diamond Hotel.
The affair is presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and Cignal TV, with able support from the Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Milo, Smart, MVP Sports Foundation, Rain or Shine, 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero, Philippine Basketball Association, OKBet, ICTSI and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.