Hidilyn Diaz finishes 4th in return to SEA Games action

Hidilyn Diaz, the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medalist, fell short of a podium finish in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games on Sunday at the Chonburi Sports School in Chonburi, Thailand.

The 34-year-old weightlifting ace finished fourth in the women's 58kg division with a total lift of 200kg to mark her SEA Games comeback following her absence in the previous edition in Cambodia.

Diaz, whose current SEA Games tally includes two gold medals in 2019 and 2022, first lifted 88kg in the snatch and settled at 90kg after getting a no-lift ruling on her final attempt at 92kg.

After the snatch round, Indonesia’s Natasya Beteyob emerged on top after completing all three attempts successfully, posting the best lift at 98kg, while Suratwadee Yodsarn of host Thailand had a best lift of 96kg. 

Diaz had difficulty in the clean and jerk, missing her final two attempts and finishing with 110kg for an overall total of 200kg. 

Yodsarn, who actually finished second to another Pinay weightlifter Elreen Ando in the 59kg division of the 2023 SEA Games, ultimately bagged the gold medal with a total lift of 224kg while Beteyob claimed the silver with 218kg total lift. 

Vietnam's Thi Tam Quang settled for bronze with a 215kg total lift. 

—JMB, GMA Integrated News