FILE — Hidilyn Diaz of Philippines celebrate at the podium during the victory ceremony for the women’s 53kg weightlifting event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MONEY SHARMA
MANILA, Philippines— Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz moved up to a heavier weight class and still ended up on the medal podium.
The Filipino weightlifting heroine carried 94 kilograms in the snatch and followed it up with a 115 lift in the clean and jerk for a 209-kg total to claim the silver medal late Monday in the 2019 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Ningbo, China.
The continental meet is a qualifier to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, allowing Diaz to successfully position herself for an unparalleled fourth straight stint in the Olympics.
The Asian Games gold medalist in the 53kg moved up to the 55kg class after Diaz’s weight category was scrapped.