Hidilyn Diaz, center, who won Silver in the women’s 53-kg Weightlifting in the Rio Olympics poses with her parents Emelita and Eduardo Sr. following a news conference upon arrival Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. The medal was the highest and the first for the Philippines in 20 years. Diaz dedicated her win to her mother.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Hidilyn Diaz won’t see action in the coming Southeast Asian Games after organizers scrapped the women’s weightlifting events.
Philippine Weightlifting Association president Monico Puentevella bared that the Olympic silver medalist won’t be able to provide moral support to Team Philippines in the August SEA Games in Malaysia.
Instead, Puentevella said he will field two young lifters to provide them exposure.
Organizers have set just five men’s events in weightlifting.
“I remember when Hidilyn first competed in the Olympics (Beijing), she was only 17 years old,” said Puentevella.
Diaz, now 25, will be competing in another Asian tournament coinciding with the Games.
The Zamboangeña took silver in the 53-kilogram weight category in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last August.
It ended the country’s 20-year-old medal drought when the country was expecting its boxers to deliver medals.