Hidilyn Diaz grateful for Asian Weightlifting Championships stint

Tokyo-bound weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz on Sunday showed her gratitude to those who supported her and the Philippine delegation in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan which concludes today.

"Thank you to all those who supported and believed in me, to #TeamHD (Diaz's team), and the Filipino weightlifters," Diaz wrote in Filipino in her social media accounts.

The Olympian also shared how she initially thought it would be impossible to join the Asian championships because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I thought it would be impossible to have competitions, to leave Malaysia, to step in another international platform, and for me to get the sixth qualifying tournament needed for me to participate in the Olympics. That's why I'm thankful that #TeamPhilippines was able to participate, despite the fears, worries, doubts, and restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic," Diaz narrated.

Diaz said she is also grateful for the experience in Uzbekistan and for the lessons she learned in the competition.

"Team HD and I learned a lot of lessons from here that we will bring to the Tokyo Olympics," she added.

Diaz officially qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after participating in the Asian championships. She placed fourth in the women's 55-kg category of the tournament.

The Philippine team won at least 11 medals in the regional competition.

Vanessa Sarno bagged two gold medals and a silver in the 71-kg category, while Elreen Ando got two silvers and a bronze in the 64-kg event.

 Hidilyn's cousin, Mary Flor Diaz, also won three silvers, while Kristel Macrohon added two more bronzes to the country's haul.

Hidilyn is the seventh Filipino qualified for the Tokyo games after pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, and Nesthy Petecio. — LA, GMA News