Hidilyn ready to better record

LONDON – The Philippine delegation’s flagbearer Hidilyn Diaz may stand only 4-11 but her heart is much bigger than what she looks like. On Monday, the gritty weightlifter mounts the stage to pursue the gold medal in the 58-kilogram class of the women’s division at the ExCel South Arena here.

Diaz, 21, is no newcomer to the pressures of Olympic competition. At the Beijing Games four years ago, she was a wildcard entry and placed 11th of 12 with a total lift of 192 kilos, way off the mark of 244 posted by gold medalist Chen Yanqing of China. Diaz was the lightest among the contestants at 56.28 kilos and it showed in the way she tried to manage 90 kilos in her third snatch attempt but couldn’t do it. Chen hoisted 106 in the snatch and bronze medalist O Jong Ae of North Korea did 95.

But since Beijing, Diaz has painstakingly worked on her technique. She has improved her personal best to 219 points, raising the Philippine record by two from her fourth place finish at the recent Asian Championships in Pyeongtaek, Korea. While the standard is still far from Chen’s record, Diaz said it puts her in contention for a medal here.

There are seven weight categories for 104 women. A competitor is given three lifts in both the snatch and the clean-and-jerk. Lifters are allowed a minute or two minutes, if making consecutive attempts, from the calling of their name to start.