Hidilyn Diaz misses podium; Alas Women relegated to bronze match

BANGKOK, December 15 ------ Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz missed out on the podium just as the Alas Pilipinas women’s team was relegated in the battle for bronze in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

Diaz fell short of her supposed third SEA Games gold medal after finishing fourth in the women’s 58-kilogram event with a total lift of 200kg. Now 34, Diaz had her best lift in snatch at 90kg while she cleared 110 in the clean and jerk. She tried to go for 115kg, and then later on 116kg, to stay in medal contention but she failed to lift both. “I did my best and this is my best for now dahil may injury ako and nahihirapan ako mag drop weight kasi lumaki ako pero it’s not an excuse,” said Diaz. “At the end of the day, 'di ako sumuko nag-prepare ako and I am happy to represent our country,” she added.

With Diaz’s loss, the Philippine weightlifting team remained without a medal in the biennial meet after Fernando Agad Jr. placing fifth in the men’s 60kg class, 16-year-old Jhodie Peralta landing fourth in the women’s 53kg event and Rosegie Ramos registering a DNF. Meanwhile, Alas Pilipinas found powerhouse Vietnam too much to handle as it lost in straight sets, 17-25,14-25,17-25, in the semifinals of the women’s indoor volleyball at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium.

The Nationals managed to keep in step with the Vietnamese in the opening set, even taking a 15-14 lead before their rivals showed exactly why they are one of the favorites to rule the competition. Vietnam unloaded an 11-2 rally that dictated the tempo for the rest of the contest. All is not lost for Alas, however, as it can still gun for a bronze medal against either Thailand or Indonesia – an achievement that the national team has not achieved in the last 20 years.

Source: mb.com.ph