Diaz prepping up for World

Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz barely had a few days off after her stint in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) when she resumed her daily training at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Diaz, a silver medalist in the AIMAG meet, is preparing for the 2017 Weightlifting World Championship from November 28 to December 5 in Anaheim, California. “That’s the biggest event in the weightlifting world, lahat ng malalakas andun panigurado,” said the 26year-old Diaz Wednesday after the firstever sports chat of the POC-PSC Media Group at the Cabana’s function room of the Tennis Center inside RMSC.

“Kaya after ng AIMAG, nag-resume na kaagad ako sa training ko kasi kasunod na kaagad yung world championship,” added Diaz, who recently opened her gym in her hometown with the support of the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF) and Meralco.

In the world championship two years ago, Diaz earned a bronze medal when she finished behind Hsu ShuChing of Taiwan and Chen Xiaoting of China in the -53kg women’s category.

A year later, Diaz claimed the silver medal in Rio behind Hsu, ending the country’s medal drought in the Summer Games. In the AIMAG held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, China’s Liao Qiuyun won the gold medal.

According to Diaz, the medal winners during the 2015 world and 2016 Olympics, and even those in the AIMAG, are expected to converge in Anaheim.

“My goal is sana mahigitan ko pa yung bronze medal ko noong last competition sa world. Hindi iyon magiging madali, pero pagsisikapan natin na makakuha ng medalya,” said Diaz.