Mas malakas na Diaz asahan sa 2021 Olympics

MANILA, Philippines — Dismayado si Rio Olympics silver medallist Hidilyn Diaz sa pagkakaudlot ng 2020 Olympic Games na nakatakda sanang umarangkada sa Hulyo 24 hanggang Agosto 9 sa Tokyo, Japan.

Nagkasundo ang International Olympic Committee at si Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe na ipagpaliban ang Tokyo Olympics dahil sa patuloy na pagkalat ng coronavirus (Covid-19) sa iba’t ibang bansa.

Lalarga ang Tokyo Games sa susunod na taon ngunit wala pang eksaktong petsa kung kailan ito idaraos.

“I can’t deny the fact I am disappointed with the postponement of Tokyo 2020 and I left everything on hold in preparation for the Olympics. This includes school, family, and friends but right now we are tal­king about the safety and health of all the athletes, their coaches, and their teams that will participating in the Olympics,” ani Diaz.

Sa kabila nito, maigi na rin aniya ang ginawa ng IOC at Japan dahil nakataya ang kapakanan ng mga atleta, opisyales at iba pang taong maaaring maapektuhan sakaling matuloy ang palaro.

“I cannot be selfish thinking of all the sacrifices I have done in the preparation for Olympics without thinking of the frontliners risking their lives to save people who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” dagdag ni Diaz.

Magandang pagkaka­taon aniya ang mahabang panahon para makapagsanay pa ng husto upang mas maging handang handa para sa laban.

“On the positive note, I’m kind a relief not to worry that I can’t hold the barbell and do heavy weights for last couple of days because of quarantine and have one more year to prepare for Olympics,” wika pa ni Diaz.

Inaasahang makukumpirma na ang puwesto ni Diaz sa Tokyo Olympics sa oras na maglabas ng listahan ang International Weightlifting Federation.

Sa kasalukuyan, apat na Pinoy athletes pa lamang ang opisyal na qualifiers sa Olympics.

Sina Carlos Edriel Yulo ng gymnastics, Ernest John Obiena ng athletics, at Eumir Felix Marcial at Irish Magno ng boxing.