Weightlifting: Hidilyn Diaz eyes Olympic qualifier in Colombia

By Waylon Galvez

With the cancellation of the Asian Championship next month due to COVID-19, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is now eyeing an Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Cali, Colombia.

According to Marc Velasco, the national training director in charge of the international exposure of athletes under the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) has reached out to the agency for Diaz to compete in Colombia.

“The weightlifting association is currently communicating to the PSC for our weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz to be able to able to complete her qualification status,” said Velasco Wednesday, pointing out that Diaz needs a sixth OQT to qualify to the Tokyo Olympics.

“We’re coordinating with the team of Hidilyn Diaz for her to go to Colombia as soon as possible. Hopefully if she competes in Colombia, she’ll be able make the qualification status,” added Velasco.

The 28-year-old Diaz, silver medalist in the Rio Olympics, is currently No. 5 in the 55kg women’s category in the IWF world ranking with 3,717.0982 points, behind Chinese weightlifters in Jiang Huihua (4,667.8878), Liao Qiuyun (4,288.9622), Zhang Wangqiong (4,212.6639) and Li Yajun (4,099.0223).

Under the rules, however, only one weightlifter per country will advance to the Games in July.

The situation concerning the spread of COVID-19 forced the IWF to cancel the 2020 Asian Championship, which serves as OQT after Uzbekistan begged off to stage the event set April 16 to 25.

Kazakhstan was the original venue for the OQT, but organizers backed out due to the global health crisis.

The South American-Ibero American and Open Senior’s Championship is set Match 18 to 23.

“Of course right now our focus is on Hidilyn Diaz, but if you look at the calendar, there are other tournaments for other members of the national team for them to qualify,” said Velasco.

Aside from Diaz, currently training in Malaysia, also in the running for Olympics berth are weightlifters Nestor Colonia in the 67kg men’s, Elreen Ann Ando and Kristel Macrohon in the women’s 64kg and 71kg.

Source: Manila Bulletin