PERFECT TIMING
Philippines’ prized weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz feels vindicated that she has defeated her 2017 World Championships tormentors when she clinched the women’s 53 kilograms gold medal in the 18th Asian Games
Winning an Asian Games gold medal at last on her third attempt, was “God’s perfect timing”, Philippines prized weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who bested 11 other entries including the top two of the 2017 World Weightlifting Championships, said.
The 27-year-old native of Barangay Mampang, Zamboanga City was in tears during the medal ceremony. The Airwoman First Class of the Philippine Air Force also proudly saluted when the Philippine flag was being raised and the national anthem was being played.
“Umiiyak ako kasi pangarap ko na matugtog (ang Lupang Hinirang) at (maitaas) ang bandila ng Pilipinas sa Asian Games,” Diaz said in a Facebook interview with Sun.Star Davao Tuesday evening moments after she made a total lift of 207 kilograms (kgs) in the women’s 53 kgs of the 18th Asian Games weightlifting competition at the Jakarata International ( JI) Expo Hall A.
Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova, 25, who was a silver medalist in the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, California, USA, where Diaz wounded up with a bronze, settled for silver anew having registered a total lift of 206 kgs.
Thai Sopita Tanasan, who emerged 2017 World Championships women’s 53 kgs gold medalist, landed at fifth place with a total lift of 199 kgs.
Diaz said, “Sa wakas natalo ko sila (Shermetova and Sopita). Eto pala ang God’s perfect timing. Hindi (ko sila natalo) sa Worlds kundi sa Asian Games.” The champion, however, approached her arch-rivals and congratulated them after the event, saying that after all, they all prepared for the Asian Games.
She said it was indeed God’s will for her to win a gold in an international competition only this year after finishing with a silver and bronze in the Worlds last year and a silver in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
She missed action in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since women’s weightlifting was scrapped. Thus, giving her more time for her Asiad preparations.
The De La Salle-College of St. Benilde sophomore placed sixth in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and finished 10th in th 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
She said that she only focused on her technique as there was nothing else she could do during the competition.
“Grateful! Yun ang feeling ko. Ang fulfilling ng pagbubuhat,” she reminisced. Here’s the rest of the interview:
SunStar Davao (SSD): Who do you want to thank for this win?
Hidilyn Diaz (HD): Unang una I want to thank God, for giving me courage, strength and wisdom. I thank the PSC and POC for supporting me. Mga taong bayan, friends and prayer warriors for their prayers and support.
Sa family ko sa unending support. Sa weightlifting family ko for the support and effort sa tulong. Sa boyfriend ko na naintindihan ako kahit di siya priority ng buhay ko. Sa core team ko going to Tokyo 2020.
SSD: What do you want to say to your fellow athletes there?
HD: Sa mga fellow athletes ko. Guys nagawa ko, so magagawa niyo rin. Believe! Kayang kaya niyo yan! We are prepared for the Asian Games. Tiwala din kay God.
SSD: What are the sacrifices and things you denied yourself from while training for the Asian Games?
HD: I had been preparing since last year. Training everyday, gigising ng maaga everyday, diet food, walang masasarap na pagkain, walang social life and travel goals with boyfriend.
SSD: Wow! So ngayon what do you want to eat first, are there any cravings?
HD: Di ko pa alam anong kainin ko kasi nawalan ako ng gana.
SSD: What’s your plans when you return home?
HD: Magtravel with my boyfriend then labas kami ng nanay ko. SSD: Saan mo ipapasyal si Nanay? HD: Sa Manila... hahahahha... balik school and gawin mga paper (works) sa school. Papers sa PAF.
SSD: How can you do all those things what with training, schooling and PAF? HD: Priority Ma’am. SSD: Ano yang papers sa PAF? HD: For re-enlistment po. Pa-enlist po ako for another six years.
SSD: Ilang years ka na nga pala with PAF? HD: Three years napo. Ngayon (pa-enlist ako) six years na. SSD: What have you done so far these past three years? HD: So far wala pa po kasi nakaDS (detachment service) kami serving the country through sports.
SSD: What’s your plan with your incentives? HD: I don’t have plans for the incentives yet.
Diaz is set to receive a total of P6 million cash incentives - P2 million from the national government (through the Philippine Sports Commission) via Republic Act 10699 that expands the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches; P2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee; P1 million from Presidential Adviser on Sports Dennis Uy’s Siklab Pilipinas Sports Foundation; and another P1 million from Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hoong Wee.