Ni VT ROMANO
NADEPENSAHAN ni Tokyo Olympics’ gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz ang kanyang 55-kg weightlifting title sa 31st Southeast Asian Games, Biyernes sa Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center.
Bumuhat siya ng 206 kgs sa finals, three points na mas mabigat sa total ni runner-up Sunikun Tanasan, 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist.
Ang panalo ni Diaz ang una para sa national weightlifting team, na na-inspire sa tagumpay ng kauna-unahan din Pilipinong Olympics gold medalist.
Aminado ang 30-anyos na “weightlifting fairy”, importante ang regional sports competition sa kanyang 2024 Paris Olympiad bid.
“My journey towards Paris (Olympics) starts here, so this SEA Games gold is very important for me. Napaka-meaningful nito (SEAG). After winning the gold medal, bumalik pa din ako, nakapag-deliver ng gold medal for the Philippines. Masaya ako na nandito ako ulet sa SEA Games, na i-represent ang Pilipinas.”
Plano rin ni Diaz na sumabak sa World Championships at Asian Games bago sa Paris Olympics.
Samantala, nakatakdang sumabak ngayon (Sabado) ang iba pang Pinoy lifters na sina Denmark Tarro (men’s 73 kgs), Elreen Ann Ando (women’s 64 kgs) at Vanessa Sarno (women’s 71 kgs).
Sa Linggo naman aaksyon sina John Kevin Padullo (men’s 89 kgs), Kristel Macrohon (women’s 71 kgs) at John Dexter Tabique (men’s 89 kgs).
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