Diaz bags gold in Asian weightlifting

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Rio Olympic qualifier Zamboangueña weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the gold medal in the third Qatar International Qatar Cup Weightlifting Championship held Dec. 8-9 in Qatar.

Elbert Atilano, coach and manager of the Zamboanga-based weightlifter, said Diaz bested various contestants from different countries with a score of 90-115 kg in snatch and clean and jerk.

Atilano said Korea came in second and Tunisia came in third.

According to Atilano, Diaz also won three  bronze medals and her male counterpart Zamboangueño Nestor Colonia won a bronze medal in the 2015 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Weightlifting Championship held in Houston, Texas last November. The feats earned them points to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

He said the Asian competition was also a qualifying championship for the Rio Olympics.

Diaz, a two-time Olympian, thanked those who supported her –  the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, and Armed Forces of the Philippines, her family and friends.

“I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to compete on world podium and for sending agency, community, organization, nutritionists and sports scientist, sports psychologist, rehabilitation and therapist, supporters, friends and family with their specialty and prayers they make me who I am now,” Diaz said.