Wednesday, 29 July 2026 · Philippines
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Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz to get lifetime free service from two chess players

MANILA, Philippines---Two Filipino chess players offer lifetime free service to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

Dr. Bien Ven P. Santos, a chess player and a chess organizer and also an optometrist at #6 Rizal Avenue extension, Brgy San Agustin in Malabon City, offers Hidilyn a lifetime free set of eyeglasses or contact lenses annually worth P5,000.

Atty. Elnathan Sunny Emilio of Koronadal City, South Cotabato, a chess player and license World Chess Federation (FIDE) arbiter, offers Hidilyn a lifetime free legal advice.

As added motivation, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Deputy Speaker Abraham “Bambol” Ng Tolentino who is also the secretary-general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), pledged to give a house and lot in Tagaytay to the gold winner.

The 30-year-old Diaz is a staff sergeant of the Philippine Airforce who won the first Olympic gold medal for the Philippines on Monday.

The weightlifter ended the country's 97-year Olympic drought since it first competed in the quadrennial meet in 1924, and now will be rewarded for her historic accomplishment. She bested world-record holder Liao Quiyun of China and Zulfiya Chinshanlo of Kazakhstan.

Diaz won a silver medal for the women’s 53 kg weightlifting competition at the 2016 Olympics at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; a bronze medal in the 2015 World Weightlifting Championships; and won third place in the 2019 World Weightlifting Championships in Pattaya, Thailand. -Marlon Bernardino-

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