By Waylon Galvez
Rio Olympics veteran Hidilyn Diaz hopes to have a good showing in the 2020 Weightlifting World Championship in Rome to solidify her chances of earning a spot to the Tokyo Olympics next year.
In this file photo, Hidilyn Diaz waves to the crowd after bagging the gold medal in the women’s weightlifting 55kg category, her first for the Southeast Asian Games, in the 30th version of the regional biennial meet at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, December 2, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Leonelle Deluvio / Captured using Canon 5D Mark IV with 300mm f4 lens)
Diaz is currently No. 5 in the world ranking of the 55kg women’s category, with only the top eight in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) ratings advancing to the Summer Games.
“Napaka-importante nitong tournament na ito para sa akin kasi halos lahat ng possible na makalaban sa Olympics expected na andun,” said Diaz who secured her Italian visa Friday at an application office in Makati.
Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, right, and personal massage therapist Belen Bañas. (TST)
“Siyempre gusto natin na maganda ang maipakita sa world championships – hopefully top three – para ma-sustain ko yung position ko sa world ranking ng IWF,” added the 28-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga City.
Diaz, a silver medalist in the previous Rio Olympics in Brazil, won her first gold during the 30th Southeast Asian Games here two weeks ago – a ‘silver medal status’ under the IWF Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which improved her ranking to 3.632.0672 points.
Currently leading in the 55kg category are Chinese weightlifters Jiang Huihua (4,667.8878), Liao Qiuyun (4,288.9622), Zhang Wanqiong (4,212.6639) and Li Yajun (4,099.0223), while at No. 6 is Muattar Nabieva of Uzbekistan (3,519.9108), Yenny Sinisterra of Colombia at No. 7 (3,432. 7232) and Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo at No. 8 (3,413.5078).
Under the IWF rules, athletes can earn points by joining different OQTs with corresponding levels.
Tournaments like the world championships or world cup are categorized as gold status, continental and regional meets, including the SEA Games, are silver, while invitational events are bronze.
Diaz had little rest following the biennial meet since she needs to stay in shape for the World Championship. She will be joined by her team, composed of Chinese coach Kaiwen Gao, as well as strengthening and conditioning coach Julius Irvin Naranjo and massage therapist Belen Bañas.
“One week before the World Championship, punta na kami sa Rome, training for a week before the actual competition. Maaga kami dun para maka-adjust na din sa weather,” Hidilyn said.
Diaz said that while there are questions raised if this is her final stint in the Olympics, she is not thinking about 2024 Paris, rather she is focused on doing well in the Tokyo meet.
“Madaming puwedeng mangyari sa mga susunod na mga taon e, kaya kapag tinatanong ako, ang palaging sagot ko focus lang muna ako sa 2020 Olympics. Of course kini-claim ko na maka-medal tayo, maganda yung training and preparation,” said Diaz.
With the support of the Philippine Sports Commission led by chairman Butch Ramirez and the MVP Sports Foundation under Al Panlilio, Diaz will also compete in the Asian Championship in Kazakhstan, her last OQT before the Tokyo Olympics scheduled July 24 to August 9.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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