POC President labels 2021 as the Gold standard for PH athletics

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has labeled 2021 as the gold standard for Philippine sports following the successes in the most recent Tokyo Olympics.

As the event concluded the country went home with four medals, including its first gold as weightlifter Hidlyn Diaz dominated the 55kg division.

The Philippine Olympic Committee called 2021 the gold standard for Philippine sports after the country collected four medals, including its first gold, in Tokyo 2020.

“This is a year of congratulations for all of us — for breaking several milestones in our sports,” said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. “The perfect description for this year is The Golden Year of Philippine Sports.”

“The year 2021 saw us attain multiple medals highlighted by that elusive gold in the Tokyo Olympics,” said Tolentino. “The COVID-19 pandemic may have slowed us down, but the ever-resilient Filipinos have again proven that we rise against the odds.”

To add to Diaz’s gold medal, Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial achieved silver and bronze medal finishes.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz became the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medalist when she ruled the women’s 55-kilogram division while boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial had silver and bronze medal finishes.

“Yes, the Filipino athlete can win in the Olympics. Yes, we have the capability and we will build on that success,” said Tolentino. “Although the rest of Team Philippines didn’t win a medal in Tokyo, their determination and their youth make them strong candidates when we return to the Olympic stage in Paris.”

Source: Inquirer