HIDILYN Diaz is back and finally getting comfortable with the new weight class that she is in.
Diaz, who has recovered from a knee injury that sidelined her last November, said she is getting ready for one of her final campaigns for the Philippines.
The 33-year-old Diaz will lead the country’s bid for Olympic qualifying berths when she plunges into action in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup scheduled in Phuket, Thailand.
She won the Philippines’ first Olympic gold when she took part in the Tokyo games at the 55-kg weightlifting class.
“Yes, this is my first Olympic qualification bid at 59-kg. Medyo matagal na ako sa weight class na ito. One year na mahigit at na-embrace ko na ito,” said Diaz after she was cited as a Flame Awardee with four others during the recent 1st Women in Sports Awards at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Her fellow Zamboangueñas Rosegie Ramos (49kg.) and Kristel Macrohon, Lovely Inan of Angono, Rizal (49kg.), John Febuar Ceniza (men’s 61kg.), Elreen Ann Ando of Cebu City and Vanessa Sarno of Bohol will join Diaz in her quest when they go to Phuket and join the meet from March 31 to April 11.
Diaz and 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games’ bronze medalist Ando are entered in the 59-kg. category, while Macrohon and Sarno are in the women’s 71kg.
“I will do my best there,” said Diaz, who is coming off an injury she suffered last November, when she pulled out from the IWF Grand Prix II in Doha, Qatar.
During the meet, Diaz did not finish after she got hurt while attempting 100 kilograms in the snatch of the women’s 59kg category.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella will join Diaz and company in Phuket, along with coaches Antonio Agustin Jr. and Diwa delos Santos (Zamboanga City), Nicolas Jaluag (Bohol), and Christopher Bureros (Cebu City). They will leave on March 29.
Based on the IWF Olympic qualifying rankings, Ceniza is at 6th place; Sarno, 5th; Diaz, 8th; and Ramos, 9th.
Only the top 10 lifters will earn a quota place and bodyweight category through the IWF Olympic Qualification Ranking tournaments for the period Aug. 1, 2022 to April 28, 2024.