With Tokyo in mind, Hidilyn Diaz rules online tournament

Hidilyn Diaz’s entry to the 2020 Oceania Weightlifting Federation Eleiko Email international Lifters Tournament. SCREENGRAB/TEAM HD VIDEO

MANILA, Philippines—Hidilyn Diaz showed peak form in her quest for an Olympic gold when she ruled the 59-kilogram class in the 2020 Oceania Weightlifting Federation Eleiko Email international Lifters Tournament Thursday.

Diaz, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, tallied a total of 216 kilograms in her video entry that she emailed to the event organizers in a performance that she described as at par with what she would’ve done in Tokyo.

“I was supposed to compete today in #Tokyo2020, I already imagined the crowd would be full of Filipinos cheering for my win in Olympics but because of the COVID-19 Pandemic the Olympics was moved to July 23-Aug 8, 2021 that imagination got blurred,” posted Diaz on Facebook.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDI7K8ZFRpD/

The Philippine Sports Commission also congratulated Diaz on her feat.

“Congratulations Hidilyn Diaz for winning in the 59kg category of the 2020 Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF) Eleiko Email International Lifters Tournament. We are proud of you!” posted the PSC on Facebook.

Diaz has been constantly working despite the Olympics getting postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she’s also won the gold medal in the -55kg division in the Roma 2020 Weightlifting World Cup in January.