Diaz set for SEA Games return, leads PH lifters in Thailand

After sitting out last year’s Southeast Asian Games, Filipina weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo is set to banner the Philippine weightlifting team for the 33rd edition of the biennial competition to be staged in Thailand on Dec 9-20.

The Philippines’ first-ever Olympic champion will return to the regional swing after choosing to be sidelined in the previous year as she focused on the Asian Weightlifting Championships, which were qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 34-year-old Filipina will aim to capture her third SEA Games gold medal as she competes in the 58 kg division.

This could also mark Diaz-Naranjo’s first gold in the said division after settling for a bronze in 2007 (Thailand) and silvers in Indonesia and Myanmar in 2011 and 2013, respectively.

The three-time SEA Games gold medalist will banner other seasoned Filipinas in the women’s team, such as Rosegie Ramos (48 kg), Jhodie Peralta (53 kg), Elreen Ando (63 kg), and Kristel Macrohon (69 kg).

While Fernando Agad Jr., Dave Lloyd Pacaldo, Albert Ian delos Santos, and John Dexter Tabique will cast the men’s counterpart of the Philippine team.

Along with an estimated number of 1,700 athletes, coaches, and officials that are expected to fly to Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, Thailand, next month, Diaz-Naranjo and her fellow lifters will vie to contribute to the country’s hopes to notch a podium after finishing fifth in the past version of the tournament.