Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo has one thing to smile about regardless of dropping out of the medal race in weightlifting. —ASIAN GAMES POOL
There must be enough fear over the nation’s try to at the very least replicate what has been essentially the most profitable Olympic journey by Group Philippines ever in Tokyo two years in the past.
4 medals, certainly one of them the breakthrough gold.
On the ongoing Asian Video games right here in Hangzhou, China, two of these medalists crashed out of the rostrum race, certainly one of them the breakthrough gold winner.
However Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo dismissed her newest slipup in her bid to repeat her golden triumph subsequent 12 months within the Paris Olympics by placing into context precisely the place her fourth-place end within the Asian Video games weightlifting occasion falls in her grand scheme with somewhat joke throughout a postgame interview.
“I’m so pleased with at the moment’s coaching, I imply at the moment’s consequence,’’ stated Diaz-Naranjo laughing.
And by her personal reckoning, that “coaching” session confirmed her what she needed to see: Diaz-Naranjo is step by step build up the power essential to develop into a worthy contender within the 2024 Summer time Video games.
“Just some extra kilos and I’ll be transferring nearer to stepping into the highest 5 or 6 (on this planet),’’ stated Diaz-Naranjo after winding up fourth in ladies’s weightlifting on Monday.
It might have been a disappointing end contemplating Diaz-Naranjo was closely counted on to bump up Group Philippines’ gold rely. The delegation additionally misplaced Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio after she misplaced her bout in ladies’s boxing.
Pressured to change to a heavier class for her bid within the Olympics, the place her regular preventing weight was scrubbed, Diaz-Naranjo completed with a mixed raise of 223 kilograms constructed on her 97 within the snatch and 126 within the clear and jerk.
North Korea’s Kim Ilgyong grabbed the gold medal, shattering all of the division’s data alongside the best way. The 20-year-old lifter pushed the bar to 111 kg within the snatch and carried 133 within the clear and jerk for a complete of 246, setting a brand new world file and continental normal in each elite and junior divisions.
However the Asian Video games was by no means actually an occasion circled in Diaz-Naranjo’s calendar.
“This [Asian Games] isn’t a qualifier [to the Olympics]. I simply actually needed to compete right here,’’ stated Diaz-Narnjo.
Nonetheless happy
However one thing about her efficiency had her happy.
“To this point, so good. You noticed I’d tried 100 (kgs) [in the snatch] and 131 [in the clean and jerk]. It’s my first time attempting them and it made me understand how stronger I’ve develop into,’’ stated Diaz-Naranjo, who used the occasion to check how she would fare towards the division’s prime bets.
“All of them are robust, however I’m nonetheless pleased. On the finish of the day, it’s Paris 2024 that issues,’’ she stated.China’s Luo Shifang was unseated as Asian champion and settled for the silver following a 240 effort on the power of a 107 within the snatch and 126 within the clear and jerk.Hsing Chun Kuo of Chinese language Taipei accomplished the rostrum with a 227 raise regardless of being hobbled by an injured left knee.
“I believe China would be the hardest competitor (in Paris) whereas Chinese language Taipei could possibly be second. I additionally should put up towards Ukraine, Columbia and Canada,’’ stated Diaz-Naranjo, who gained the Olympic gold within the ladies’s 55 kg.
Kim, the North Korean lifting surprise, gained’t be seeing motion in Paris.
In line with Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella, North Korean lifters could possibly be barred from taking part within the Olympics since they refuse to endure doping assessments.
The 32-year-old Filipino weightlifting heroine is eyeing for a fifth consecutive look within the Olympics.
“From right here, I’ll go house and prepare for [the] Qatar [World Cup],” she stated, as she hopes to place to make use of the insights gained from this “coaching” session with Asia’s greatest.
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Diaz-Naranjo has already completed three of the 5 tournaments essential to make it to Paris. INQ