Hidilyn Diaz sorry for missing out on SEA Games medal: ‘This is my best for now’

CHONBURI, Thailand – Weightlifting heroine Hidilyn Diaz offered an apology as she missed her shot at a medal in her Southeast Asian Games comeback.

The Philippines’ first Olympic champion finished fourth in the women’s 58kg class with a total of 200kg at the Chonburi Sports School here on Sunday, December 14.

Seeing action in the regional showdown after missing the 2023 Cambodia edition, Diaz cleared 90kg in snatch and 110kg in clean and jerk but she failed in her bid to add to her personal five-medal SEA Games haul, which includes a pair of golds.

Thailand’s Suratwadee Yodsarn dominated the competition with a 224kg total, while Indonesia’s Natasya Beteyob (218kg) and Vietnam’s Thi Tam Quang (215kg) bagged silver and bronze, respectively. 

Diaz said she continues to be bothered by a right knee injury that she dealt with during her qualification bid for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“First, I want to say sorry, but I did my best,” Diaz told Filipino reporters. “This is my best for now because I have an injury and I had a hard time dropping weight because I got bigger.” 

“But that is not an excuse. At the end of the day, I did not give up, I prepared for this, and I’m happy to represent the country.” 

The 34-year-old Zamboangueña said it is the first time she did not medal in a SEA Games she competed in since the 2005 edition held in Manila.

She won golds in 2019 and 2021, silvers in 2011 and 2013, and a bronze in 2007. 

But even then, Diaz relished her return to the international stage, admitting that she was demoralized after she fell short of a spot in the Paris Games — a setback that denied her a fifth consecutive Olympic appearance.

“After not qualifying for Paris, I kind of lost motivation. This is my first international competition after 2024. I’m happy to be back again,” Diaz said. 

“I missed the feeling of playing for the Philippines, of being there on the podium. I’m happy to be back.” – Rappler.com