TOKYO Olympics gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz retained the 55-kilogram (kg) weightlifting crown in the 31st Southeast Asian Games as she defeated Sunikun Tanasan on Friday, May 20, 2022 at the Hanoi Sports Training and Competition Center in Vietnam.
Diaz finished with 206 kgs in the finals, besting Tanasan, the 2016 Rio Olympics gold medalist, by three to win Philippine weightlifting’s first gold in these games. Afterward, Diaz said this win is crucial for her build-up towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“My journey towards Paris (Olympics) starts here, so this SEA Games gold is very important for me,” said the 30-year-old Diaz. “This is very meaningful to me. After winning the gold medal, I came back and still delivered a gold medal for the Philippines. I’m happy to be back here and represent the Philippines in the SEA Games.”
With a predominantly Filipino crowd that included Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino and Chef de Mission and Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, egging her on, Diaz established a new SEAG mark of 92 kgs in the snatch.
However, the record was short lived as Tanasan raised the metal plates by a kilogram to literally snatch the new record and led the competition at the break. But there was no concern at all from Team HD’s camp.
“The clean and jerk is where she really stands out,” said sports psychologist Dr. Karen Trinidad, who is part of Diaz’s world-class support staff known as Team HD.
True enough, Diaz shone in the clean and jerk, where she pounced on the field with an initial 114-kg lift that proved too high a mountain to climb for the Thai, who managed only a best lift of 110.
“We studied our opponent, we know she’s strong in the snatch, but not so much in the clean and jerk. But of course, we cannot downplay the competition. I always do my best,” said Diaz, adding that it was a struggle training for the SEA Games after her busy schedule as a result of her Tokyo Olympic gold triumph.
“I was able to drop my weight from 61 to 55, that is why I’m so grateful with Team HD for reaching this performance again,” added Diaz, who plans to take part in the World Championships and the Asian Games, just before the Paris games.
This is Diaz’s second straight gold medal in the SEA Games after winning the gold back in 2019 when the Games were hosted in the Philippines.
Team PH updates
In other events, the Philippines proved that the country also excels in eSports after winning the gold medal in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Mobile) Team Event.
The team was composed of Danerie del Rosario, Kyle Soto, Salic Imam, Jonmar Villaluna, Russell Usi, Lee Gonzales and Dexter Alaba.
The Philippines also bagged the gold in the Men’s Team of Four event in bowling. The squad composed of Ian Dychangco, Ivan Malig, Patrick Nuqui and Merwin Tan combined for a total of 5,275, beating Malaysia, which scored 5,162 points, for the gold medal on May 19.
On May 19, Rena Fukuwara beat Myanmar’s Chu Myat Noe, 1-0, in the Women’s -57 KG division finals to give the Philippines its first gold medal in Judo.
Meanwhile, the duo of Treat Huey and Alex Eala won the bronze medal in Tennis Mixed Doubles, while Eala won her second bronze medal Women’s Singles.
WGM Janelle Mae Frayna also bagged a bronze in the Women’s Individual Blitz event in Chess.
The Philippines is currently in fifth place in the medal tally. Host Vietnam is still at the top with 339 medals. (JNP and EKA)