BACOLOD CITY – Guangzhou Asian Games veteran Hidylin Diaz and fellow Zamboangueña Maybelyn Pablo set new weightlifting records late Wednesday in the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission (POC-PSC) National Games at the SM Bacolod City mall.
Vying in the women’s 58-kilogram class, the 19-year-old Diaz lifted 95 kilos in the snatch and 120 in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 215, surpassing the 94-115-209 marks she booked in last year’s Guangzhou Asian Games.
The 17-year-old Pablo, who saw action in the 75-kg. class, registered 76 kilos in the snatch to shatter the 6-year-old mark of Evan Gicain who booked 72.5 in the 2005 National Open.
Pablo also lifted 98 and 74 kilos, respectively, in topping the category of the Games sponsored by Smart; Procter and Gamble; Scratch It, Go for Gold; Summit Natural Drinking Water; Super Ferry; and Negros Navigation.
“I’m happy to have broken my previous records and meet most of the target weights set by our coach Renato Agustin,” said Diaz.
Diaz hopes to become the first Filipino athlete to qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games when she competes in the world championships in Paris, France this November.
“I’ve sacrificed a lot so I can compete in the Olympics, and I intend to pursue my schooling once I have competed in London,” added Diaz, a wildcard bet in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Diaz is tipped to challenge top Thai lifter Pemsiri in the Indonesia Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in mid-November after the world championships.