BACOLOD—Lifting steel plates and iron bars seem to be light work for Hidilyn Diaz, and the triumphs help her deal with a heavy heart.
The 20-year-old Diaz, who dearly wants to get back to school but is making a sacrifice for flag and country while chasing her dream of becoming an Olympic medalist, reset six national weightlifting records in a day in the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission National Games.
Seeing action in the 58-kg division on Wednesday, Diaz lifed 95 kg in the snatch to improve by a kilo the previous women’s Open record and lifted 120 in the clean and jerk to erase the previous mark of 115 for a new high total of 215—much better than the earlier mark of 209. The previous women’s Open records were set by Diaz herself in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou last year.
The new figures now also stand as the new records for the junior girls division (18 to 20 years old). The previous records were 88 in the snatch and a 196 total set by Diaz in 2009 in the national championships in Bohol, and 111 in the clean and jerk set in the Asian Youth Championships last year in Uzbekistan.
It was joy sixfold for the diminutive Diaz, who considers victory in each tournament, big or small, a huge return of the investments she has made in her career.
“Malaki na rin ang sakripisyo ko para maging athlete...kaya masaya po talaga pag may ganito po akong accomplishments,” said Diaz, who is eyeing a spot in the 2012 Olympics and hoping to get back to school right after the London Games.
Getting to her second Olympics and her first Southeast Asian Games golds, however, will take a little more than just lifting heavy stuff.
The World Championships in Paris is set from November 11 to 20, while the Southeast Asian Games are from November 11 to 25 and Diaz may have to choose between the two—although local officials said the weightlifting events in the SEA Games may be moved to the latter part of the fortnight.
Diaz also seems dead-serious in getting to both, looking lost for words when asked what to do if she were made to pick, before finally saying: “Kung ako papipiliin, pareho po,” said the four-foot-11 Diaz.
“Kaya naman po,” she added. Her coach, Tony Agustin, agreed and noted that around three days recovery period between tournaments would be enough, although the long trip from Paris to Palembang could also pose some problems.
World champ Orcollo falls
DENNIS ORCOLLO, the reigning world 8-ball champion, was stunned by young Sip Tingson, 9-5, in the round-of-16 in 9-ball action on Thursday.
The 21-year-old Tingson showed nerves of steel facing the world titlist and Asian Games 9-ball gold medalist and in front of a huge crowd.
It was the first big tournament for Tingson, who was actually unaware that the event is an evaluation tournament for the national athletes and aspirants.
The BS Marine Transportation student at John D Lacson Colleges Foundation fell behind, 2-4, but managed to make it 5-5 and finally found his groove to string up four straight racks and seal a place in the quarterfinals against Paul Ortega.
“Medyo kinakabahan din po ako, kasi kilala ko naman kung sino siya,” said Tingson, who joined the tournament “just for fun” without much expectation.
Rodrigo Geronimo also scored an upset, bouncing Warren Kiamco, 9-5.
John Baylon, meanwhile, looks set to book another trip to the SEA Games, the 45-year-old again proving he is the best in his class with an easy victory over Jayson Senales of Muntinlupa City in the 81-kg division in the sportsfest sponsored by Smart, Procter&Gamble, Scratch it Go for Gold and Summit Mineral Water.
National jins also reigned supreme at the Negros Occidental Multipurpose Activity Center, with Jyra Lizardo edging Iyra Tindoc, 9-7, in the women’s bantamweight title match, while Sam Thomas downed Kurt Ysulat, 10-5, in the men’s lightweight showdown in the tournament also backed by Negros Navigation, Superferry, Gatorade, Standard Insurance, Zest Air, Accel, Bodivance, Merci and Reliv.
