P5-M reward ng Palasyo kay Diaz (Sa Silver Medal sa Rio Olympics)

MAY limang milyong pisong pabuya mula sa gobyerno ng Filipinas na naghihintay kay Hidilyn Diaz, ang kauna-unahang weightlifter na nanalo sa Olimpiyada, at nakasungkit ng silver medal sa Rio Olympics sa Brazil.

Ayon kay Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, winakasan ni Hidilyn Diaz ang 20-taon kawalan ng Olympic medal ng Filipinas.

“On behalf of a proud nation, we congratulate Hidilyn Diaz for winning the Philippines’ first medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. The inspiring story of Diaz is the story of Filipinos. Bespectacled and standing at 5’2″, Hidilyn, who hails from Zamboanga City, took up weightlifting from a relative who taught her the sports.  Hers is about overcoming shyness but for an inspired nation, her road to Rio is a journey of grit, patience and determination which ended a 20-year long medal drought for the Philippines.

Congratulations, Hidilyn, our first Olympic medalist from Mindanao.  Mabuhay ka at ipagmamalaki ka naming lahat!” ani Communications Office Sec. Martin Andanar.

Pumangalawa si Diaz sa 53-kg weightlifting division na may kabuuang score na 200 kgs na nabuhat.

Nakuha ni Hsu Shu-Ching ng Chinese-Taipei ang gold medal makaraan makapagtala ng 212-kg.

Ang 25-anyos atleta mula sa Zamboanga City ay bronze medalist rin noong 2015 World Weightlifting Championship.

Ito na ang kanyang ikatlong Olympic stint at sumabak na rin sa 2008 Beijing Olympics at noong 2012 Summer Games sa London.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakatitikim ng gold medal ang bansa mula nang maging bahagi ito ng Olympic nations sa napakahabang panahon.

( ROSE NOVENARIO )