Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz said she has yet to receive a go signal with regards to the schedule of departure for Japan as she continues to wait for updates from local sports officials.
There is a plan for Diaz and her ‘HD Team’ of Chinese mentor Kaiwen Gao and strength and conditioning coach Julius Naranjo to go to Japan at least a month before the Tokyo Olympics set July 23 to August 8.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) chief Monico Puentevella said Wednesday, June 2, that they are still waiting for the availability of facilities to open in Japan.
“We’re still looking for a hotel with gyms where Diaz can train, or a gym near the hotel,” said Puentevella in a message to Manila Bulletin. “Most gyms in Tokyo are still closed.”
The idea of bringing Diaz in Japan at least a month before the Tokyo Olympics is for her to acclimatize with the weather condition, and to focus on her training instead of other things.
Puentevella has said that he is also working with Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Bambol Tolentino for the possibility of Diaz going to Japan with her team.
At the moment, Diaz is still in a training camp in Malaysia.
Despite the stricter nationwide lockdown in Malaysia because of a spike in COVID-19 cases, Diaz – in a social media post – said that she and her team are doing well where they are right now.
“Salamat po sa lahat nag message at nagalaala sa kalagayan namin dito sa Malaysia,” said Diaz on her Instagram account @hidilyndiaz last Tuesday, June 1 – the start of the lockdown.
“Full lockdown po ulet, aaminin ko medyo naapektuhan ako pero buti nalang nasa Malacca, Malaysia kame at nasa kampo kame, isolated from other people, at malayo sa sentro.”
“Huwag po kayo mag alaala basta nagtratraining parin po ako at kasama ko ang barbel parati, at mga coaches ko, okay po kame dito. Ingat po tayong lahat, nandyan parin ang covid.”
“Huwag magkampante at kung pwede magpavaccine narin po,” she added.
The 30-year-old Diaz, Gao and Naranjo were inoculated with their first shot of AstraSenica vaccine last May 7. She will be competing in her fourth Olympics – having won a silver medal during the 2016 Rio meet.