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Hero's welcome awaits Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz


 

A hero's welcome awaits weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the first athlete to bring the Philippines a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, a report on Unang Balita said Thursday.

Diaz, 27, an Airwoman First Class, will be welcomed home by the Philippine Air Force and her family at Mampang, Zamboanga City.

No details were given on the possibility that she may move up a rank for her achievement.

Diaz received praise from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and President Rodrigo Duterte for her triumphant performance in weightlifting.

She said the possible cash incentives she may receive from various benefactors, including Duterte, will be used to venture into business.

"My main goal is to help out kids in my hometown and realize their dream in weightlifting," she told Agence France-Presse.

Eye on Olympic gold

Following her success at Asian Games, Diaz has her sights set firmly on Olympic gold.

"The sacrifices you make are so hard when you're training every day," she said.

First she needs to qualify for Tokyo, a cycle that starts at November's world championships in Turkmenistan.

The busy Diaz will attempt to juggle training with her air force career, college studies and managing her new weightlifting gym opened last year in her home town of Zamboanga in Mindanao. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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