Hidilyn Diaz's strategy to finally beat Turkmenistan champion

JAKARTA — Hidilyn Diaz on Tuesday won gold in women’s 53-kg. weightlifting competition to the delight of Team Philippines.

Deliver the golden mint Diaz did with a calculated move at the Jakarta International Expo Hall as the only lifter she and coach Tony Diaz watched out for — Turkmenistan’s Kristina Shermetova, the same woman who denied the Filipina the gold in last year’s world championships —fell prey to their trap.

“The plan was to keep an eye on Shermatova, because the clean and jerk is Hidilyn’s strength,” Agustin said.

Shermatova lifted 113 kgs in her second attempt, but Diaz surprised her by hoisting her submitted lift of 115.

“Hidilyn has been lifting 115 in practice, so we were confident she would pull this one off," Agustin added.

Down one kilo, Shermatova tried 116 kgs but failed for a bad lift. Diaz didn’t bother to lift a submitted lift of 117 kgs to stroll toward the top of the podium.

“I learned I won the gold when she had a bad lift in her third attempt and my coaches started to jump for joy,” Diaz said.

Diaz lifted 92 kgs in the snatch and that 115 in the clean and jerk for a total of 207, enough to shove Shermetova (206) to the silver medal. Thailand’s Khambao Surodchana completed the podium with 201 kgs.

“I am grateful to God that I won the gold medal that all of us Filipinos dream of,” Diaz said. “This proves the Olympic gold medal is possible.”

Diaz’s gold pushed the Philippines to 14th overall in the medal  standings with one gold and four bronze medals—the fourth from taekwondo’s Pauline Louise Lopez.

Diaz, the 2016 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year, stands to receive a cash windfall of P6 million — P2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee, P2 million from the government through Republic Act 10699, which expands the coverage of incentives granted to national athletes and coaches, and P1 million each from the Siklab Foundation and the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hoong.

“In the Olympics, no one expected me to win a medal. Here at the Asian Games, everyone expected me to win,” she said. “For two to three months, I was on the edge. I hardly got enough sleep. But I just kept on training and gave my fate to God.”

“I am grateful to God that He granted what all of us Filipinos have wished for,” she said. “It can be done—an Olympic gold can be won.” —Asian Games 2018 Philippine Media Pool