Hidilyn Diaz, who won the Silver in the women’s 53-kg Weightlifting of the Rio Olympics waves as she is applauded by her countrymen shortly upon arrival Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. The Olympic medal was the highest and the first for the Philippines in 20 years.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
OLYMPIC silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz reiterated her commitment for flag and country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“We cannot tell what the future will bring, but I really want to compete in 2020,” said Diaz in Filipino, after receiving a house and lot worth P450,000 in Clark Field, Pampanga, yesterday from real estate firm 8990 Holdings.
Sports officials are worried that her instant popularity could entice the weightlifting heroine to dabble in show business and put her gold-medal dream in Tokyo in the backseat.
“There are no offers yet. Right now, my priority is to train and maintain my strength,” said Diaz.
The 25-year-old pride of Zamboanga City said she’s preparing for a possible stint in an invitational in Qatar at the end of the year prior to next year’s International Weightlifting Federation world championship in Penang, Malaysia.
Diaz earned P5 million as cash incentive from the government and another P2 million from President Rodrigo Duterte apart from cash bonuses from the Senate, House of Representatives and other benefactors.
Cutting down weight from 58kg, Diaz will continue to compete in the women’s 53-kg division where she won bronze medals in the 2015 world championship in Houston, Texas.
“I have a responsibility to train as an athlete and inspire younger athletes to win medals in the Olympics similar to what I’ve done,’’ said Diaz.