Sun.Star Davao

NOT EASY FIGHT

Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz is asking Filipinos to pray for her and the rest of the country’s delegation competing in the ongoing 18th Asian Games in Indonesia

- BY MARIANNE S. ABALAYAN / Editor

Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz evaded to answer questions on her 18th Asian Games competitio­n set today in Indonesia but appealed for Filipinos to pray for her and the rest of the Philippine delegation.

“Prayers po. Need po namin ng prayers and support from them (Filipinos),” she told Sun. Star Davao via Facebook Sunday evening.

The 27-year-old Diaz, who hails from Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City, said: “This is not an easy fight, hingi ko po sana prayers talaga.”

When she was asked to share her thoughts on her Asiad stint this year, she replied, “Ayoko kasing magsagot ng question now. Need kong mag-focus. Sorry.”

She, however, promised to grant this writer an interview after seeing action in the women’s 53 kilograms event at 5 p.m. today.

Diaz had been preparing for the quadrienni­al Games after women’s weightlift­ing was scrapped from the 29th Southeast Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She last participat­ed in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China where she finished sixth in the women’s 58 kilograms. She finished 10th in the 2006 edition of the Asiad held in Doha, Qatar.

The Philippine­s’ weightlift­ing team is also composed of Kristel Macrohon, fellow Olympian Nestor Colonia, Ma. Dessa delos Santos, Jeffrey Garcia, Elreen Ann Ando and Elien Rose Perez.

Colonia was set to test his mettle in men’s 65 kgs as of yesterday presstime while Jeffrey Garcia debuts tomorrow in men’s 69 kgs event.

 ?? HIDILYN DIAZ FB ?? FOCUS. Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz wants to focus on her competitio­n, which is set today, and nothing else.
HIDILYN DIAZ FB FOCUS. Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz wants to focus on her competitio­n, which is set today, and nothing else.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines