Diaz eyes China training for Asian Games

MANILA, Philippines – Rio Olympics silver medal winner Hidilyn Diaz is looking at training in China as she sets her sights on preparing for the Asian Games set in Palembang and Jakarta, Indonesia, and the World Championships serving as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifier next year.

“I will be focusing on the 2018 Asian Games and World Championship for the Tokyo Olympics next,” said the 26-year-old Diaz, who arrived Tuesday from Anaheim, California, where she took home a bronze and a silver medal in the recently concluded International Weightlifting Federation World Championships.

“I have no scheduled major competition before those two events so we hope to get to train in China,” she added.

Diaz copped a silver medal in the clean and jerk and a bronze in the snatch in Anaheim to cap an impressive year after she also claimed a silver in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan last September.

Thai Sopita Tanasan took the gold, but Diaz did manage to outperform Rio conqueror and Olympic champion Hsu Shu Chin of Chinese Taipei, who withdrew after completing her lift in the snatch.

Although she failed to eclipse her personal best, Diaz said she was just happy to go home with medals.

“Deep in my heart, I know I can surpass my personal best and win the gold but there are circumstances that are just unavoidable. Maybe it wasn’t just my time,” said Diaz.

Now Diaz focuses on the Asiad set August 2 to 18 and the Worlds slated in Ashgabat in November next year.

In the meantime, Diaz said she would rest a bit and concentrate on her studies where she is a Business Management student at College of St. Benilde.

“Back to school and vacation for me,” she said.