Hidilyn Diaz isn’t expected to get a podium finish these days.
Focus will be on Diaz qualifying to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics instead of winning medals in qualifying tournaments.
Diaz’s coach Tony Agustin said this as Diaz and six other lifters start joining Olympic qualifiers next month.
“Hindi kami nag-eexpect. Basta makapasok lang sa top eight,” said Agustin.
Diaz’s quest for qualifying slots begins with the IWF World Championships, which will commence from Nov. 1 and will go on until Nov. 10 in Ashqabat, Turkmenistan.
She will be joining the 55 kg category, which is higher than the 53 kg. event.
So far, Diaz is undergoing many changes with the way she prepares under a new lifting coach Gao Kaiwen.
Gao, who came aboard last June, has been making Diaz lift heavier weights with a new routine and techniques that he has been introducing her.
Agustin shared his thoughts after receiving an incentive of P1 million from the Philippine Sports Commission, as part of his incentive for helping Diaz win the gold in the recent Asian Games.
He is among 26 coaches who earned a total of P8 million in cash bonuses for their contribution in the Philippines stash of four golds, two silvers and 15 bronzes in the Asiad.
Nestor Colonia and Jeffrey Garcia are joining Diaz.
Elreen Ann Ando and Ellen Rose Perez, young aspiring members of the national team like Kristel Macrohon, and Rose Ramos.
National ead coach Leonardo Llena will spearhead the delegation.
During Friday’s awarding ceremony at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, golf coach Jesselito Zamora, who helped Yuka Saso win golds in the individual and team event of the Asiad, got P1.999 million in incentives from the PSC.
Daniel Bautista, who is skateboarder Margielyn Didal’s coach, also earned P1 million in bonuses.