Tokyo Olympics champion Hidilyn Diaz guns for the only gold medal missing in her collection when she competes in the women’s 55 kilogram today in the 2022 IWF World Championships at the Gran Carpa Americas Coferias in Bogota, Colombia.
Diaz, 31, will vie for top honors alongside eleven other lifters from the United States, Chinese Taipei, Mongolia, Peru, Denmark, Uzbekistan, Romania, Indonesia and two from Mexico.
In her three tries in the worlds, Diaz, who got the Olympic silver in Rio de Janeiro, could only bring home a bronze each time.
Diaz’s stint comes a day after Nestor Colonia wound up sixth in the men’s 55-kilograms ruled by hometown bet Miguel Angel Suarez Mesa. Placing second was Josue Brachi Garcia of Spain and third was Juan Antonio Barco Rangel of Mexico.
It was a heartbreaking showing for Colonia, who took third spot in the 2015 worlds.
Despite Colonia’s anemic showing, the leadership of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas insists there is no need to panic since the goal is to earn Olympic qualifying points for Paris 2024.
“We are here to get points, not necessarily win because what we are aiming for is the Olympics, not the qualifying competitions,” SWP president Monico Puentevella said.
The other Filipino bets entered here include rising stars Erleen Ando and Vanessa Sarno.
