Big chance for PH lifters to nail Olympic slots

Beijing Olympian Hidilyn Diaz and Asian Youth and Junior gold medalist Nestor Colonia may just make it to the London Olympics after their impressive showing at the recent World Weightlifting Championships in Paris.

Diaz, now ranked seventh in the world in the 58-kilogram category, only needs to perform creditably in the last qualifying round in April next year in South Korea to make her second Olympics.

This last qualifier will determine the final list of competitors for the London Olympics.

Colonia is now ranked 13th in the world in the 56 kg class after his performance in France and must improve on his lift in Paris in the Korean qualifier to also land a berth in London.

The International Weightlifting Federation reportedly wants only the world’s top 10 lifters in each class to vie in the Games.

The participation in Paris of the two lifters plus their coach Antonio Agustin Jr. was made possible by the Philippines Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation, which has also adopted weightlifting as one of its favored sports.

Diaz took the silver medal in the 58 kg category in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Philippine Weightlifting Association head Monico Puentevella said he is optimistic of the lifters’ chances in the qualifiers.

“If Lady Luck smiles on us in Korea, weightlifting, may just have one or two lifters in the London Olympics,” he said.