Diaz cops 3 golds in Asian Weightlifting

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time Olympian Hidilyn Diaz swept the three gold medals in the women’s 53-kg category to cap a five-gold, one-silver romp for two-member Team Philippines in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand Monday night.

A day after Nestor Colonia came away with a record two-gold, one-silver haul in the men’s 56kg class, Diaz came through with winning lifts of 96kgs in snatch, 118kgs in clean and 214kgs in total to complete her domination and boost her stock heading to the upcoming Olympic-qualifying tournaments.

Finishing behind the Filipina ace were North Korean Kim Su Ryon, who grabbed the silver medals in snatch (95kgs) and total (208kgs), and Chinese Yu Yuanyuan, who landed second in the jerk (115kgs).

Diaz beat a field of six lifters, including SEAG rivals from host Thailand and Vietnam.

“I wanted to make the country proud and raise the Philippine flag in the Asian Weightlifting Championships,” said Diaz, a pride of Zamboanga.

Diaz’s clean sweep was a fitting followup to the exploits of Colonia, who made history by capturing Phl’s first ever golds in the Asian senior play with a triumphant snatch of 153kgs and total of 274kgs. Colonia placed second in snatch with 121kgs, only one kilo short of Vietnamese Tran Le Quoc Toan’s 122kgs.

The twin success augurs well for the bids of Diaz and Colonia to make it to the Rio Olympics. They are set to see action in the world championships in Houston and another qualifying meet in Uzbekistan after this.

The two athletes were accompanied by Philippine Weightlifting Association president Roger Dullano, vice president Elbert Atilano, coach Alfonsito Aldanete and Asian Weightlifting Federation honorary president and Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella.The contingent thanked the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation for supporting its trip to Thailand.