Hidilyn seeks podium finish
ASIAN INDOOR AND MARTIAL ARTS GAMES
Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is trying to keep her weight in check as she heads to the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) from Sept. 15-25 in Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.
The 26-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga, who is the first female athlete from the Philippines to win an Olympic medal, yesterday said there’s a bit of a struggle on the scales.
“It’s really difficult to lose weight but it’s part of the challenge,” Diaz told
The STAR.
A week before the 104-strong Philippine contingent leaves for Turkmenistan, Diaz is three to four kilos over the limit, just trying to make sure she doesn’t get any heavier than that.
The member of the Philippine Air Force won the silver in the 53 kg class in Rio. It was her third Olympics since 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London, where she competed in the 58 kg weight class, and went home emptyhanded.
Going down in weight was a successful move for Diaz as she broke the 20-year dry spell for the Philippines in the Summer Games.
“The most difficult part for me is making weight. I stopped training for four months after the Rio Olympics and gained weight. I lived the good life during the break. Ang sarap
kumain (I enjoyed eating),” she said.
Diaz trains daily at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, twice a day if she finds extra time after school at the College of St. Benilde, admitting that every day is a challenge.
“The challenge is in making weight. I feel that my power is there, the strength is there. My weight is the only concern I have right now” said Diaz, who will plunge into action and seek a medal in the AIMAG on Sept. 19.
In weightlifting, entries are weighed in two hours before the competition.
Diaz expects fierce competition from entries from China, Chinese Taipei, Korea and Thailand, basically lifters she’d gone up in previous competitions.
“It’s almost the same cast. The competition here will be as tough as the Olympics. It’s only a question of who will peak in time for the competition,” she said.
A lifter from Chinese Taipei won the gold in Rio, and a South Korean the bronze.
Officials of St. Benilde gave Diaz and an alumnus, taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora, a warm sendoff yesterday.
Alora, also a veteran of the 2016 Olympics, is out to pick up the pieces after crashing out of the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
“This is another competition. I’m focused,” said Alora, a three-time gold medalist in the SEA Games.
It will be Diaz’ first competition since the Rio Olympics after sitting out the recent SEA Games where female weightlifting was stricken off the list.
“It’s back to the grind,” said Diaz, hoping to do well in Turkmenistan.
“We will see where I stand now. Questions will be answered here,” said Diaz, who has vowed to carry on competing until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and try to win the elusive gold.
In the 2013 AIMAG in Incheon, South Korea, the Philippines won a gold in dancesport (Latin-Joeve) courtesy of Jerald Jamili and Cherry Clarice Rarcon, who also won the bronze in the Latin-Five Dances.
Rubilen Amit bagged another bronze in the 10-ball singles two years ago.