SAMAHANG Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella was elected vice president of the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) during the continental body’s electoral congress in Doha, Qatar, last Thursday.
Qatar’s Mohamed Yousef Al Mana was also elected AWF president for the third time, while Mohamed Al Harbi of Saudi Arabia was picked secretary general.
The AWF also awarded Puentevella as Honorary President for his exemplary performance as national federation head.
“This award goes to all our disciplined lifters, for Hidilyn [Diaz-Naranjo], their parents, our coaches,” said Puentevella, who made special mention of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), MVP Sports Foundation, Hans Sy and his fellow SWP board members.
“This new award, aside from the IWF Hall of Fame comes after more than 20 years of perseverance and yet enjoying this Olympic sport that has given pride for our country,” he said. “To God be the glory.”
Puentevella is the SWP’s president since 2002. He also served as Philippine Olympic Committee chairman for four years and PSC commissioner for more than six years under Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada.
He was also responsible for the National Youth Games or Batang Pinoy, the PSC’s grassroots development program for children 15 years old and below.
Puentevella was inducted into the IWF Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievements last year. The Philippines won its first Olympic gold medal through Diaz-Naranjo at the Tokyo Games last year.