Air Force salutes airwoman Hidilyn Diaz for Olympic gold win

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Monday congratulated Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for capturing the country's first ever gold medal in the 2022 Tokyo Olympics.

PAF commanding general Lieutenant General Allen Paredes extended his congratulations to Diaz, who is also a sergeant in the PAF.

"The men and women of the PAF join the country in celebrating this historic event," Paredes said in a statement.

Diaz bagged the country's first gold medal in the Games after winning the women's 55-kg weightlifting event at the Tokyo International Forum on Monday.

Diaz put an end to a near century-long Olympic gold medal drought since the Philippines first competed in the Olympics in 1924.

"Sgt. Diaz personifies diwa, galing at malasakit of the airmen and airwomen. Congratulations and mabuhay, Sgt Diaz," Paredes said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also extended his congratulations to Diaz.

"Her success is a testament to the unwavering spirit of the Filipino to rise above all odds. Your One Defense Team is proud of you, Sergeant Diaz," he said in a statement.

The 30-year-old Diaz, who hails from Zamboanga entered the PAF as an active personnel in 2013. She is currently an organic personnel of the PAF Civil Military Operations Group.

Before her history gold medal victory, Diaz won a silver medal in the women's 53-kg category in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

She was also a gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News