Filipino Olympians weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxer Nesthy Petecio, both females and representing the country at the Tokyo Games during this Covide-19 pandemic time have decidedly inspired pride and joy in the hearts of their countrymen, according to the Department of Tourism (DOT).
DOT congratulated Diaz and Petecio for bringing home long-awaited gold and silver medals. Diaz won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, while Petecio bagged the silver in the women’s featherweight division.
The agency also hailed other Filipino athletes at the Tokyo Games who are now sure of winning more medals. Aside from Diaz and Petecio, boxers Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam are assured of bronze medals at least.
“Petecio’s victory brings pride and joy to the Philippines as she is the first Filipina boxer to bag an Olympic medal, ending the country’s boxing medal drought since Onyok Velasco’s silver medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics,” the agency said.
“The DOT also celebrates Nesthy’s silver medal, along with Hidilyn Diaz’s gold, as these have led the Philippines to a multi-medal finish in the Olympics, a first for the country after 89 years,” it added.
Filipinos are optimistic Filipina campaigners in golf and related events will bring home more medals making the Tokyo Games a fertile field where Pinoy athlete harvested the most number of Olympic medals since nearly a century ago.