At A Glance
- CHONBURI – Tokyo Olympics champion Hidilyn Diaz vies for another Southeast Asian Games crown on Sunday, Dec. 14, in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games weightlifting competitions at the Chonburi Sports School.
CHONBURI – Tokyo Olympics champion Hidilyn Diaz vies for another Southeast Asian Games crown on Sunday, Dec. 14, in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games weightlifting competitions at the Chonburi Sports School.
She is entered in the women’s 58kg division with the competition starting at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. Manila time).
Diaz previously won the SEA Games gold in 2019 in Manila and 2022 in Hanoi.
The 34-year-old Diaz tempered expectations about her chances of winning the gold medal since she has been very busy in other weightlifting-related activities, such as training younger athletes and helping propagate the sport in the country.
What Diaz is promising, though, is that she will give her best, just like in past competitions.
“Di ba parati kong sinasabi na I will do my best dito sa SEA Games. Medyo mahirap ‘yung preparasyon ko kasi ‘yung preparation of being an athlete, may goal ka, hindi ako ganun ngayon. Ang dami kong ginagawa on the side. Hindi ko nagagawa ng maayos. Pero ngayon, hoping na I’m in the best shape with the help of my therapist and coaches na tinulungan ako to do my best,” said Diaz.
Diaz recognizes the expectations back home and says all she needs to do is not think about it too much and enjoy the competition.
“I really have to enjoy the moment and be proud na I’m representing the Philippines in Southeast Asia,” said Diaz.
Diaz will compete against the likes of Suratwadee Yodsarn of Thailand, silver medalist in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total in the Asian Championships last October, and Thi Tam Quang of Vietnam, who won the bronze medal in the clean and jerk in that same event.