Hidilyn Diaz feels she is just reaching her peak. —IWF.NET
Hidilyn Diaz’s journey to the next Olympics started on a high note after taking silver and bronze medals in the World Weightlifting Championships Thursday in Anaheim, California.
The 26-year-old silver medal winner in the Rio Olympics earned another stripe after her two-medal feat in the women’s 53-kilogram division.
“Now we look forward to the Jakarta Asian Games (2018) and Tokyo Olympics (2020),” said Philippine Weightlifting Association president Monico Puentevella.
Thai lifter Sopita Tanasan captured the gold in the division with a stunning 210 total off a 96-114 score in snatch, and clean and jerk, respectively.
Diaz got the silver in clean and jerk with a 113 lift and took home the bronze in total with a 199. Diaz carried 86 in snatch.
Sharing the silver with Diaz was Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova, who had a 91-113 for a 204 total.
Another Filipino, 23-year-old Kristel Macrohon, is set to compete in the women’s 69kg in the coming days.
“This is the biggest tournament that I competed in this year,” said Diaz, who skipped the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian Games after organizers scrapped the women’s division.
Diaz said she’s on target for the Jakarta Asian Games and the Tokyo Olympics as she still has to reach her peak. Her best lift was a 214 total in winning the Asian Championships in Phuket, Thailand, in 2015.
She also lifted a 213 total during the Houston World Championships two years ago.
In Anaheim, where she faced 19 competitors, Diaz’s goal was 210.