Hidilyn Diaz has her sights set for another medal in the 2020 Olympics, but the Rio Olympics silver medalist is also planning for the future.
The aspiring weightlifters of Zamboanga will now be looking forward to the Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship program, backed by the Alcantara group’s Alsons Power, who will provide for its young scholars’ full tuition, school supplies and uniform stipends.
“I always think that the blessings which I received is not all for me but I have to share this to kids who have potentials of becoming the next Olympian,” Diaz told the media during a press conference last month.
The program is for “aspiring weightlifter student athletes chosen from among the group of young athletes that will train in the weightlifting training gym that Hidilyn plans to put up,” said Oscar Contreras III, Head of Corporate Communications for Alsons Power.
Recipients of the scholarship program will be chosen based on recommendations of a committee which includes Hidilyn Diaz, national coach Alfonsito Aldanete and Philippine Weightlifting Association vice president Bong Atilano.
“The mechanics of the scholarship will be firmed up once Hidilyn’ s training school begins selecting its first batch of trainees but basic requirements will be that the scholar passes all subjects in the school year and remains qualified to train as a national athlete,” Contreras added.
Atilano previously said Alsons Power was “the only company that directly supported the weightlifting team.”
“Alsons motivates me before and after the competition which really helped me. They want more kids to try the sport and train early in their childhood,” Hidilyn said. She added that the company’s support gave her and the team the boost they needed during the Olympics.
Hidiyln is a native of Zamboanga, where Alsons Power operates a 100-megawatt (MW) diesel plan and will soon begin construction of a 105-MW baseload coal plant.