RIO Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz evaded to answer questions on her 18th Asian Games competition set Tuesday, August 21, in Indonesia but appealed for Filipinos to pray for her and the rest of the Philippine delegation.

"Prayers po. Need po namin ng prayers and support from them (Filipinos)," she told SunStar Davao via Facebook Sunday evening, August 19.

The 27-year-old Diaz, who hails from Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City, said: "This is not an easy fight, hingi ko po sana prayers talaga."

When she was asked to share her thoughts on her Asiad stint this year, she replied, "Ayoko kasing magsagot ng question now. Need kong mag-focus. Sorry."

She, however, promised to grant this writer an interview after seeing action in the women's 53 kilograms event at 5 p.m. Tuesday, August 21.

Diaz had been preparing for the quadriennial Games after women's weightlifting was scrapped from the 29th Southeast Asian Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She last participated in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China where she finished sixth in the women's 58 kilograms. She finished 10th in the 2006 edition of the Asiad held in Doha, Qatar.

The Philippines' weightlifting team is also composed of Kristel Macrohon, fellow Olympian Nestor Colonia, Ma. Dessa delos Santos, Jeffrey Garcia, Elreen Ann Ando and Elien Rose Perez.

Colonia was set to test his mettle in men's 65 kgs as of press time Monday, August 20, while Jeffrey Garcia debuts on Wednesday, August 22, in men's 69 kgs event.