Solis hopes ward springs a surprise

Ramon Solis is just as ecstatic to be in the Beijing Olympics even as he is there as coach - not as competitor.

Solis, the last RP weightlifter to compete in the Olympics (1988 Seoul Olympics) hopes that his ward, 17-year-old wildcard entry Hidilyn Diaz, could spring a surpise.

This is possible according to Solis. Before the left for Beijing he explained that in weightlifting everything is unpredictable, even the strongest and well trained could end up with nothing.

“Sa weightlifting, di gyud nimu basta matagna or mabana-bana.Gamay nga sipyat sa pag-alsa, lisod na. Naay uban dihang kusgan kaayo, mga record breakers, unya ma-zero isa Olympics,” (“In weightlifting, you couldn’t predict or guess. A little mistake means a big thing. There are those who are strong, the record breakers, but went home with nothing in the Olympics.”) Solis said.

Diaz has nothing to lose and everything to gain in Beijing. She got a slot as wildcard entry after showing a lot of potential in competitions she entered. She trained in China together with Kelly Kaye Rojas and Nestor Colonia alongside Solis.

Solis said that all three weightlifters showed big improvements in their techniques that he feels they could perform well in Beijing. There will be no rest for these athletes after the Olympics as they will be competing in the 2008 Asia Men and Women Junior Weightlifting Championship in Jeonju, Korea later in the year.—Caecent No-ot Magsumbol