Hidlyn Diaz proves she’s still queen of the 55-kg class. –SHERWIN VARDELEON
Hidilyn Diaz orchestrated another masterful act in the ongoing Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, raising her stock as a bonafide qualifier in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Yet despite her triple-gold effort on the world stage of the women’s 55-kilogram category, nothing’s certain until the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) puts its seal of approval.
“More or less, Hidi (Diaz) is already qualified, but our lifters need six events to make it [to Tokyo],’’ said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
The World Cup in Italy where Diaz claimed golds in the snatch (93 kg) and clean and jerk (119 kg) events for a 212 kg total was the fifth tournament for the country’s weightlifting heroine, who captured a silver medal in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“It is the requirement of the IWF, after which the qualifiers will be declared,’’ Puentevella told the Inquirer.
The final qualifying tournament for Diaz and the national weightlifting squad is the 2020 Asian championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, on April 16-25.
In the women’s 55 kg where Diaz is considered one of the front-runners for a medal in the Olympics, the top eight lifters in the world after the six events identified by the IWF will secure their Olympic spots.
Five more continental slots will be offered by IWF for Asia, the Americas, Europe, Oceania and Africa plus one more either from the host country or by invitation.
“One more to go. Not only for Hidi, but for everyone,’’ said Puentevella after another Filipino lifter, Cebuano John Fabuar Ceniza, made it to the podium.
Ceniza seized a bronze medal in the total of the men’s 61 kg after hoisting 152 kg in the clean and jerk and 117 kg in the snatch for an accumulated lift of 269 kg.
Diaz, the first Filipino woman lifter to capture a gold medal in the Asian Games, likewise bagged a silver medal in the 2019 Asian Championships in Ningbo, China, a bronze in the 2019 world championships in Pattaya, Thailand, and a gold in the 30th Manila SEA Games.