Diaz wraps up heavy training
Hidilyn Diaz has wrapped up her heavy training and is ready to plunge into action on Monday at the start of weightlifting competition of the Tokyo Olympics.
On Friday, Diaz did some squats to get the stimulus in her legs going, according to national coach Julius Naranjo in an Instagram post.
“Today, we had to rush training because we only had 45 minutes to train, but we made the best of it and put in a solid session,” he said. The 30-year-old Diaz will be making her fourth and probably final Olympic appearance.
She won the silver in the women’s 53-kilogram division of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, ending the country’s 20-year drought. Diaz has since moved to the heavier 55-kilogram class where she will face world record holder Liao Quiyun of China and European champion Kamila Konotop of Ukraine.
Quiyun holds the record of 227 kilograms while Konotop’s winning lift in the European championships this year in Moscow was 208 kgs.
Diaz lifted 212 kilograms when she placed fourth during the Asian championships in
Tashkent, Uzbekistan last April. That effort earned her a trip to Tokyo.
On Thursday, Naranjo said they were able to see the competition venue.
“I was speechless and was in awe with how beautiful the platform was and took some time to soak it all in,” he said.
Monico Puentevella, president of Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, believes that Diaz holds an edge, having seen all her competitors in Tashkent.
“The athletes in Uzbekistan are the same people in Tokyo,” he said. “She knows what the lifters of China are capable of and what she’s capable of.”
We made the best of it and put in a solid session.
With Diaz heading into retirement, Elreen Ando is being groomed to take her place.
The 22-year-old find from Cebu is making her debut in the women’s 64-kg. bracket on Tuesday.
Ando earned a spot to Tokyo through absolute continental ranking.
Little is expected of the unheralded Filipina who bagged two silvers and a bronze during the Asian championships last year.
Puentevella said Ando is there mainly for the experience.
“I intend to bring her to Paris in 2024. Hopefully, she will be our medalist,” he said.
The official, however, is not discounting the possibility of Ando pulling off a surprise.
“You can never be sure. This girl has a strong heart,” he said.