IWF should reconsider its rules — weightlifting chief Monico Puentevella

By Waylon Galvez

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella has asked the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to reconsider five events instead of six as required number of meets for hopefuls to be tabulated for Tokyo Olympics qualification.

The deadly spread of COVID-19 forced the IWF to cancel the Asian Championship and a few more Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQTs) until April.

“There are athletes who are one short of a qualifying tournament, but what tournament and where when most events this month and the next are already postponed or even canceled,” said Puentevella Sunday.

“If they can tell us where and when, that’s OK, we’ll send our athletes. But if there is none, maybe they should reconsider this time by just having five events, instead of the six tournaments,” he added.

Puentevella said he made this proposal since the IWF executive board is set to meet starting Wednesday in Lausanne, Switzerland.

There are four Filipino weightlifters in the running for an Olympic berth, and Hidilyn Diaz, silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, is expected to book a spot with her sixth OQT.

The 28-year-old Diaz is set to compete in the South American-Ibero American and Open Senior’s Championship March 18 to 23 in Cali, Colombia. She is also at No. 5 spot in the IWF world ranking with the top eight advancing to the Olympics in Japan.

The three other Filipino weightlifters hoping to make the Olympic cut are veteran Nestor Colonia in men’s 67kg, Elreen Ann Ando and Kristel Macrohon in women’s 64kg and 71kg, respectively.

“It’s not just our athletes who’ll benefit with this (proposal), even the other countries,” said Puentevella.

“But for us, I think if they allow five tournaments instead of six, and then total the best scores from the qualifiers, we have a chance to send one or two more I think in the Tokyo Olympics,” he added.

Source: Manila Bulletin