Weightlifter Diaz urged to improve performance before Asian Games

Olympian Hidilyn Diaz’s subpar performance in the recently concluded 2014 Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)-Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Philippine National Games (PNG) won’t affect her chances in the 17th Incheon Asian Games in South Korea set from September 19 to October 4.

The Zamboanga native clinched the weightlifting gold in the women’s 58-kilogram division with a total lift of 215-kg.—95 in the snatch and 120 in the clean and jerk) but it was below her 96-123-219 record she made in last year’s PNG in Dumaguete City in Negros Occidental. 

Diaz’s 215-kg total lift is way below the bronze medal finish of North Korea’s Jong Chun-mi of 225kg. (98 in the snatch and 127 in the clean and jerk) in the 2010 Guangzhou Asiad. China’s Li Xueying won the gold with lifts of 105 in the snatch and 133 in the clean and jerk for a

238 total while Pak Hyun-sok, also of North Korea, settles for the silver (104-128-232). Chen Yanqing of China holds the Asian Games record of 251-kg (111 snatch and 140 clean and jerk).

Philippine Weightlifting Association president Roger Dullano said he wrote a letter to the joint POC-PSC Asian Games Task Force to reconsider Diaz’s inclusion to the Philippine delegation’s official roster in Incheon.

Philippine deputy Chef de Mission Julian Camacho confirmed Tuesday that Diaz’s name was included on the list they submitted to the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee last month but the 23-year-old enlisted personnel with the Philippine Air Force needs to improve her performance to justify her inclusion on the country’s official team roster.

Dullano added that Diaz, a two-time Olympian that competed in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London editions of the Summer Games, was on duty with the Air Force and that’s why she had little time to train and prepare before the PNG.

“Hindi man niya naabot ang bronze medal standard, she was given time to prepare and improve on her record. The Task Force said that she needs to validate her inclusion to the Asian Games delegation. She’s lucky to be included,” said Dullano. (Even though she didn’t reach the bronze medal standard, she was given time to prepare and improve on her record.)

Pinoy triathletes set for Youth Games

Four Filipino junior triathletes are in the final phase of their high intensity training camp in Portugal in the hopes of clinching berths to the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China set from August 16 to 28 this year.

Cebuano standout Justin Chiongbian, Olongapo bets Vicky Deldio and Jimuel Patillan, and Jose Noble Jr. trained under the guidance of former Olympic triathlete coach Sergio Santos at the International Triathlete Union junior camp in Lisbon.

National coach Melvin Fausto accompanied the four, who will head straight to Almaty, Kazakhstan for the Burabay Youth Games on June 1.

The Burabay Youth Games is a qualifying event that will offers the top five male and female triathletes slots to the Nanjing Summer Youth Games.

Triathlon Association of the Philippines president and Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Tom Carrasco said the month-long training camp gives the four junior triathletes the chance to improve their skills in a world class environment. 

– Rappler.com