Lifter Diaz London-bound

BACOLOD, Philippines – Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has been awarded an individual qualification slot to the London Olympics by the International Weightlifting Federation for her solid performances in the IWF’s qualifying competitions, becoming the ninth athlete in the small Philippine delegation.

Diaz, a wild card holder and the youngest participant in the last Beijing Games, made it as qualifier this time on the strength of her topnotch showing in the 58-kg class of the IWF World Championships last year in Paris, where she placed seventh and the Asian championships last month in Korea, where she wound up fourth.

“She has qualified to the Olympics by performance,” said Philippine Weightlifting Association president and Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella, who received the official confirmation from IWF director and chief of protocol Aniko Mora.

The top 10 lifters based on their outputs in the IWF’s designated world and continental qualifiers will earn tickets to London, and as per Puentevella’s communications with IWF president Tamas Ajan and Mora, Diaz is ranked ninth overall in her division.

Diaz lifted 95kgs in snatch, 122kgs in clean and jerk and 217 kgs total in the Asian qualifiers in Korea - records she eventually reset recently in the POC-PSC National Games - to boost her shot for the 2012 Games.

But the pride of Zamboanga had to wait for the results of the last continental qualifying meet in Oceania last June 9 to know if she would maintain her Top 10 position and earn an individual berth.

The IWF, as per its guidelines for London, first awarded slots based on "team performances" during the main qualifying (world championships) and continental qualifying before filling in slots to individuals like Diaz.

Phl’s other Olympic hopeful, Nestor Colonia (men’s 56kgs), failed to join Diaz in London. Puentevella has also applied for a wild card berth for Colonia but the request was denied as the IWF can only accommodate 250 athletes in the Olympics. 

“If Thailand can produce two golds in women’s weightlifting in the Olympics, there is no reason why we can’t. It’s just a matter of priorities,” said Puentevella, who thanked the MVP Sports Foundation and the Philippine Sports Commission for supporting the PWA’s programs.

He said one of the plans is to send Diaz and four other young lifters to China, the sport’s superpower, for intensive training right after the London joust, looking ahead to the next Asian Games and SEA Games.