Hidilyn Diaz assured of 2018 Asian Games slot

ASIAD BOUND. File photo shows Filipina Hidilyn Diaz celebrating her silver medal finish in the women's 53kg weightlifting event at the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro on August 7, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / GOH Chai Hin

MANILA, Philippines – Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz confirmed that she will see action in the 2018 Asian Games that will be held in Indonesia.

The 3-time Olympian's second place finish in the 2016 Rio Olympics secured her one of the two slots reserved for the women's national weightlifting team by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

"Ang isa sa criteria nila Asian medalist o Olympic medalist, so definitely nandun na ako," said Diaz during the Women in News and Sports (WINS) Initiative on Monday, June 4.

(One of the criteria is an Asian [championship] medalist or an Olympic medalist so definitely I'm there.)

Diaz missed the 2017 Southeast Asian Games after Malaysia opted not to include the event, but she claimed that she was ready to compete against powerhouses Thailand, China and South Korea in the Asian Games.

"Nandun na lakas ko, pero yung body weight na lang kasi yun talaga yung struggle ko pero nagtitiwala naman ako sa sarili ko," added Diaz about her return to the international stage.

(My strength is there, but then I'm still struggling with my body weight and I trust myself.)

The bemedalled athlete recently participated in the 2018 Philippine National Games and clinched a gold in the women's 58-kg class after lifting 90 kilograms in the snatch and 115 kilograms in the clean and jerk.

Diaz secured the country's first Olympic medal in 20 years after lifting two out of her 3 attempts in the women's 53-kg division. She also nabbed the gold medal in the 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championship in Phuket. – Rappler.com