Kate Diaz, niece of 2016 Olympics silver medalist and 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, gave the Philippines its medal after finishing second in women’s weightlifting in the Arafura Games at the Darwin Convention Centre in Australia.
Diaz, 15, lifted 50 kilograms in the snatch and 65 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 115 kilograms in the women’s 45-kilogram event won by Taiwanese Shi Yue-Shan.
On her third try, Diaz tried to lift 70 kiloghrabs but she failed.
The Taiwanese triumphed after lifting 53 kilograms in the snatch and 67 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a 120 kilogram total.
Diaz vowed to do better in future competitions in the hope of emulating the feats of Hidilyn.
The event was officially opened last Friday in an explosion of color and music to the delight of the PH delegation.
At presstime, Franz Jonard Lorejo and Bruce Pernia were seeing action in the men’s javelin throw, while Evangeline Caminong and Shairadell Matillosa were taking part in women’s long jump at the Mararra Sports Precint in the country’s campaign supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Standard Insurance.
