FILE – Hidilyn Diaz hopes to transform her Rio de Janeiro silver into Tokyo gold.SHERWIN VARDELEON/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines — Hidilyn Diaz formalized her entry in the Tokyo Olympics after participating in the Asian Weightlifting Championship on Sunday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Diaz punched a ticket to Tokyo after competing in her sixth Olympic qualifying tournament to meeting the requirements.
With Diaz in tow, the Philippines now has seven bets in this year’s Summer Games.
The 30-year-old Diaz joined pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Irish Magno.
Diaz will be making her fourth trip to the Olympics after also competing in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
She won the silver medal in the women’s 53-kilogram category in Rio to end the Philippines’ 20-year medal drought.