PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte was euphoric on Tuesday, August 21, after Filipino Olympian Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines' first gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
In a speech in Cebu City, Duterte was "wowed" by Diaz's win in the women's 53 kilogram in weightlifting at the Jakarta International Expo Hall A in Indonesia.
"I'd like to make an announcement. In Jakarta, we won the first gold medal. Weight lifting," the President said during the conference of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
"Hidilyn Diaz, ito 'yung sundalo. Sundalo ito ng Philippine Army (She is a soldier, a soldier of the Philippine Army). Wow! That's the message," he added.
Diaz, a silver medalist in the Rio Olympics in 2016, bested 11 other weightlifters.
The 27-year-old pride of Zamboaga City beat out Turkmenistan's Kristina Shermetova who followed her lead, and Thailand's Surodchana Khambao who came in third.
The Philippines has so far bagged one gold and four bronze.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. wished the Philippine athletes the best.
"Go Philippines," Roque said. (SunStar Philippines)