Diaz shifts focus to 2022 SEAG, skips world weightlifting stint

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Hidilyn Diaz will no longer compete in the upcoming 2021 World Weightlifting Championships from December 7-17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Instead of suiting up for the prestigious weightlifting competition, the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist will be focusing on the upcoming 2022 Southeast Asian Games.

Initially, Diaz was set to compete in Uzbekistan as a finale to her grand 2021 campaign but Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella confirmed to Rappler that they will have a change in their plans.

Diaz will no longer fly to Uzbekistan but the country through the SWP will still send representatives that are bound to compete in the different categories.

“We’ll send Asian champ Vanessa Sarno, SEA Games champ Kristel Macrohon, Olympian Elreen Ando, and Mary Grace Diaz,” said Puentevella.

One of the main reasons why Diaz had to withdraw from the WWC is her short window of time left for her practice camp.

Diaz’s original plan of beginning her training camp in Malaysia was scheduled in September but due to certain reasons, her departure got delayed.

Now, Diaz will be aiming to win the gold medals again when the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games begin next year.