Hidilyn’s gold medal draws ‘wow’ from Duterte

After two hours of speaking before the country's league of town mayors, President Rodrigo Duterte had to return to the podium and announce weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's victory to his audience.

Duterte even indicated wanting to personally congratulate the Philippine Air Force member if had the time.

"I'd like to make an announcement. In Jakarta, we won the first gold medal. Weightlifying. Kung may panahon lang sana ako," Duterte said in a speech before the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Visayas cluster.

"Hidilyn Diaz. Ito yung sundalo. Sundalo 'to ng Philippine Army. Wow. That's the message," he added.

Diaz bagged the gold medal after she dominating the women's 53-kg. division, lifting 92 kg. in the snatch and 115 kg. in the clean and jerk, totaling 207 kg.

With Diaz's triumph, the Philippines improved its tally to a gold and four bronze medals.

The President met Diaz in August 2016 when she made history as the first Filipino woman and Mindanaoan to win a silver medal in the Olympic Games when she accomplished the feat in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Zamboanga City-native 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.

With Diaz's victory, the Philippines improved its tally to a gold and four bronze medals so far in the quadrennial sports meet.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has lauded the victory of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.

"Airwoman First Class (AW1C) Diaz epitomizes the diligence, perseverance, hard work, and dedication not only of every airman, soldier, sailor, and marine, but of every Filipino who triumphs over all adversities and challenges," AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said in a statement. —Virgil Lopez/NB, GMA News