Diaz bags bronze in world championships
Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz yesterday took the bronze medal in the women’s 53 kilogram division of the 2017 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Anaheim, California.
Diaz, 26, only managed to place sixth in the snatch with an 86 kg lift, but she made up for it by finishing second in the clean and jerk with a 113 kg effort for a total of 199 kg.
Thailand’s Sopita Tanasan cap-
tured the gold medal after dominating the snatch and clean and jerk for a 210 kg total. Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova settled for the silver with a 204 kg.
Tanasan submitted 96 kg in the snatch and 114 in the clean and jerk, while Shermetova 91 kg and 113, respectively.
Rounding out the top ten are Supattra Khaewkhong of Thailand (198 kg), Joanna Lochowska of Poland (198 kg), Yagi Kanae of Japan (195 kg), Caitlin Hogan of the US (194 kg), Gabriela Lopez of Mexico (184 kg), Leticia Laurindo of Brazil (183 kg) and Atenery Hernandez of Spain (183 kg).
Her third-place finish only proves that Diaz is on track in her dream of making it to her fourth Olympics when the quadrennial event is hosted by Tokyo in 2020. Diaz also competed in the 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London) Olympics and only hit paydirt last year.
Rio Olympics gold medalist Hsu Shu-Ching of Taiwan was unable to complete her participation after sustaining an elbow injury although she posted 93 kg in the snatch.
Before taking part in the worlds, Diaz placed second in the fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.