Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz may not be alone in carrying the flag for the host Philippines during the opening ceremonies of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
There may be a total of five flagbearers when the Games are formally opened during festivities which will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Nov. 30.
Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Steve Hontiveros formally received a proposal on this from Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez during a chef de mission meeting yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“This will be the first time that we will have five flag bearers. And this is because it’s not only one venue that we will have the Games,” said Hontiveros.
Ramirez, as the chef de mission of the national delegation, also named skateboarder Margielyn Didal, boxer Eumir Marcial, gymnast Carlos and pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena as the flagbearers of the country.
Hontiveros said a meeting to discuss will be held and they will most likely approve having all five as flag bearers.
The 28-year-old Diaz distinguished herself for having won a silver medal in the women’s 53-kg weight division in the 2016 Rio Olympics, ending the Philippines’ 20-year Olympic medal drought.
The Cebu-based Didal is a gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Games in street skateboarding.
The 19-year-old Yulo is a Filipino artistic gymnast who participated and won a bronze medal in the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.
Marcial won gold medals for the Philippines at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, 2017 Southeast Asian Games and 2011 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Obiena broke the pole vault record during the Asian Athletics Championships record with 5.71 meters last April 21, in Doha, Qatar which earned him the coveted gold medal finish, and an Olympic qualifying slot.