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| Hidilyn Diaz. (Photo by=Sherwin Vardeleon/PH Inquirer) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] By the time Hidilyn Diaz makes her final lift at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Sunday, the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics silver medalist from Zamboanga City will formally make it to the Tokyo Games later this year, PH inquirer reported.
Though she needs to just “show up” and complete the required five-tournament rule she needs to satisfy to make the Games proper, the second-ranked lifter in the world has been readying herself mentally and physically for this final qualification meet for more than a year even while in quarantine in Malaysia.
Diaz, who will see action in her fourth straight Olympics when the Japan edition rolls along, arrived in Tashkent on Tuesday with Chinese coach Kaiwen Gao and strength and conditioning mentor Julius Naranjo, to be able to acclimatize before the women’s 55kg competition on Sunday. Jeaneth Aro, Diaz’s nutritionist, joined them the following day. Diaz doesn’t need a podium finish in Tashkent for an Olympic spot as taking part in the competition would complete the International Weightlifting Federation’s requirement of seeing action in five tournaments to be eligible for Tokyo.
