Hidilyn in Tokyo Olympics
Hidilyn Diaz failed in her bid for a podium finish but got her initial goal – a fourth straight Olympic appearance.
A silver medal winner during the 2016 Rio Games, Diaz settled only for fourth place in the women’s 55kg category in the Asian Weightlifting Championship Sunday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Still, it was enough to formalize her participation in the Tokyo Olympics and become the seventh Filipino qualifier in the world’s greatest sporting show that will start this July.
By just taking part, Diaz completed the required numbers of participation in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).
The 30-year-old Diaz li ed 94kgs in snatch and 118kgs in clean and jerk for a total of 212kgs.
“No regrets, I did my best,” said Diaz in a message exchange with Manila Bulletin-Tempo Monday.
“I’m happy and thankful that I finally qualified in the Tokyo Olympics, that I was given an opportunity to be here in Asian Weightlifting Championship, that I was able to represent the Philippines in this OQT.”
Chinese Qiuyun Liao took the gold while compatriot Yajun Li settled with silver, and Muattar Nabieva of Uzbekistan earned the bronze medal.
Prior to the event, Diaz was at No. 5 in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) rankings with 3,717.0982 points in the 55kg women’s category.
In front of Diaz are Chinese Jiang Huihua (4,667.8878), Liao Qiuyun (4,288.9622), Zhang Wangqiong (4,212.6639) and Li Yajun (4,099.0223).
However, as per the IWF guidelines a nd Tokyo Olympics rules, only one li er is allowed to compete per country in the Games.
Those who have earlier booked slots to the coronavirus-hit Tokyo Games were box ers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, gymnast Carlos Yul and pole vaulter EJ Obiena. Meanwhile, Mary Flor Diaz missed a great chance to join her cousin Hidilyn in Japan as she settled with three silver medals in the women’s 45kg category. Jhilli Dalabehera of India ruled the event to advance in the Tokyo Olympics. On the other hand, John Fabuar Ceniza took the bronze medal in the men’s 61kg division, while Ellen Rose Perez placed fourth in women’s 49kg category.