Filipino weightlifters Hidilyn Diaz and Elreen Ando. (File photograph from Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines–There’s a chance that Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and fellow Tokyo Gamer Elreen Ando—Diaz’ labeled inheritor obvious—may conflict in the identical weight class in qualification meets for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With simply 10 weight lessons to be disputed in Paris, Diaz and Ando may wind up preventing for the lone Philippine slot within the girls’s 59-kilogram—except they each drastically cut back or add weight.
Diaz captured the nation’s first Olympic gold within the 55-kg class, whereas the 23-year-old Ando suited up within the heavier 64-kg division in Tokyo.
Below the Paris schedule, solely the 49-kg, 59-kg, 71-kg, 81-kg and over-81-kg lessons for girls and 61-kg, 73-kg, 89-kg, 102-kg and over-102 kg for males will likely be made out there.
“I want that they compete in several classes so we will have extra lifters in Paris,’’ mentioned Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella. “I don’t actually sit up for the 2 of them preventing it out as a result of they’ll modify their physique weights by themselves.’’
Going up the weighing scale isn’t new to Diaz, who secured a silver medal within the 53-kg division through the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Video games earlier than pushing it to 55 kgs the place she nailed the last word prize in Tokyo 2021.
As for Ando, sliding 5 kilograms down will likewise pose a problem, however can show useful since she gained’t sacrifice a lot of her power and talent in lifting heavier steel plates.
“It will likely be pure for Elreen,’’ mentioned Puentevella. “Hidi can go down [to a lower weight class], however it is going to all rely upon the choice of coach Julius (Naranjo).’’
The native weightlifting affiliation will subject each Diaz and Ando within the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Video games in Vietnam on Could 12-25 the place their typical preventing weight will likely be featured in addition to within the Asian Video games in Hangzhou, China, in September.
“It’s actually as much as them. However first we have now to complete the SEA Video games after which go to the Asian Video games. After that, we’ll sit down as a result of the 2 of them should resolve,’’ mentioned Puentevella.
In accordance with Puentevella, the nationwide weightlifting squad is able to qualifying three to 4 lifters to Paris, together with 18-year-old Asian juniors and seniors champion Vanessa Sarno and Kristel Macrohon.
“Each of them (Diaz and Ando) are certified, each of them have probabilities to win, however just one can signify the nation for every class [in the Olympics],’’ added Puentevella.
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