TOKYO Olympic gold medalist Hidylin Diaz and fellow national lifter Rosejean Ramos finished their training in Manama, Bahrain four days before the start of the World Weightlifting Championships in neighboring Saudi Arabia on Sept. 4.
“Great environment just to be in before just before the worlds! Training with three Olympians and one junior world champ and all the Bahrainin weightlifters,” Diaz said on her Instagram account yesterday.
Among the athletes who trained with the Zamboanga City is Ecuadorian and fellow Tokyo Olympic Games gold medalist Neisi Dajomes, who ruled the women’s -76kg division, and her younger sister, Angie, a Pan American champion in the women’s 71kg class.
Accompanied by husband-coach Julius Naranjo, Diaz trained in the Bahraini capital to adjust to the expected hot climate in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, which will be the site of the world meet.
Diaz is scheduled to see action in a highly-anticipated showdown with compatriot Elreen Ann Ando in the women’s 59kg class on Sept. 8 as they vie for a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Ando has been training in Manila and is set to leave during the week with national team members Vanessa Sarno, John Febuar Ceniza, Rosegie Ramos, Lovely Inan and Kristel Macrohon.
