Weightlifting: Philippines pride Diaz cops 3 silvers in Asian C’ships

by Kevin Sox

Philippines weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz bagged three silver medals in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships Monday in Ningbo, China to further add glory across her impressive international resume.

Diaz lifted 94 kilograms in the snatch and 115 in the clean and jerk for a total of 209 kilograms in the women’s 55-kilogram event.

With the success, the 28-year-old Diaz will boost her chances of qualifying once again for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, which could be her fourth appearance in the prestigious sporting event.

Diaz won silver in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics for the women’s 53-kilogram division, handing the Philippines its first medal in two decades and the first ever medal by a female competitor.

Diaz has not stopped since her Olympic breakthrough, finishing with a bronze in the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim before claiming the gold in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

Diaz will compete at the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, from September 18 to 27 as she continues her goal of making the Olympics again.

Interestingly, Diaz has not won a gold in the Southeast Asian Games, with her last medal finish coming in 2013.

With the Philippines hosting the SEA Games, it would be an opportune time for Diaz to end the 2019 calendar year with a bang as she continues her build up for Tokyo.