Diaz could not break through in the heavier 59 kg division.
Olympic medalist and Asian Games medal hopeful Hidilyn Diaz narrowly missed a podium finish in the women’s 59 kg division on Monday, finishing fourth after lifting a total of 223 kg—97 kg in the snatch and 126 kg in clean and jerk.
Diaz, though, is satisfied with her performance—and is taking the defeat in stride as she looks to build toward the Paris Olympics next year.
“Masaya ko kasi I’m representing my country dito sa Asian Games and masaya ko [kasi] kahit bagong weight ito sa ‘kin, nag-e-excel ako, I’m fighting for a medal,” Diaz told One Sports after the competition. “Nakikita ko na posible pala na magme-medal ako sa Paris kasi before naman parang imposible, pero ngayon nagta-try na kong mag-100. Kasi ‘yun ang importante, I’m pushing myself to the limit for the Philippines and for myself.”
The Filipino weightlifter previously won gold in the 2018 Asian Games at the 53 kg division and the Olympic gold in Tokyo in the 55 kg weight class. Unfortunately, both weight categories were not included in both the Asiad and the Olympiad, prompting Diaz to move up two weight divisions in search for another golden finish.
And, if the result of Monday’s competition is any indication, it is clear Diaz is still feeling her way around her new weight class and will have her work cut out for her. But it also proves that the 32-year-old is nearly at that level with a little less than a year before Paris.
“This competition gives me more confidence for Paris 2024,” added Diaz, who finished just 4 kg shy of bronze medalist Kuo Hsin Chung of Chinese Taipei.
Kim Il-gyong of North Korea won gold with a total lift of 246 kg, highlighted by a world record 111 kg snatch and an Asian Games record 135 kg clean and jerk. Luo Shifang of China settled for silver with her 240 kg total.
(With reports from Belle Gregorio, One Sports)