Diaz continues to adjust to her new weight division.
Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz continues to adjust to her weight division as she finished seventh in the overall standings of the women's 59 kg category at the 2023 IWF World Weightlifting Championships held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Diaz managed to raise 97 kg in the snatch and 127 kg in the clean-and-jerk, accumulating a total of 224 kg. That's the same total she cleared for the historic first Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
She placed just one spot higher than fellow Filipina weightlifter Erleen Ando, who finished with a total of 222 kg with a 100 kg snatch and a 122 kg clean and jerk.
China’s Luo Shifan bagged three gold medals by lifting 107kg in the snatch and 136kg in the clean-and-jerk, resulting in a total of 243 kg.
Ukraine’s Kamila Konotop, meanwhile, secured silver in the snatch and in the overall lift, along with a bronze in the clean-and-jerk, while China's Pei Xinyi grabbed bronze in the snatch and the total lift.
To qualify for the Paris Olympics, Diaz and Ando must be in the top 10 in the Olympic Qualification Rankings by April 28, 2024. Furthermore, they must also compete in mandatory events like this year's World Championships to stay eligible.
Diaz had already competed in the 59kg division back in the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships last May, placing fourth with a total of 221 kg.
Diaz and Ando will look for an even better finish in the next weightlifting tournaments in the coming months.
(CF)