Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz delivered the first gold medal of the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Diaz, the silver medalist in the Rio Olympics two years ago, bested the rest of the competition in the women’s weightlifting 53-kg event held at Jakarta International Expo Hall A.
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The 27-year-old Diaz had a total lift of 207kg, beating Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova (206kg) and Thailand’s Surodchana Khambao (201kg).
The Zamboanga City native, who is also a member of the Philippine Air Force, was in tears as the country’s national anthem played during the awarding ceremony.
Hidilyn Diaz of Philippines competes in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MONEY SHARMA
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The Philippines’ first four medals were bronzes and were courtesy of the men’s and women’s poomsae teams, Agatha Wong in wushu and taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez.