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Hidilyn Diaz Reveals Sacrifice On Path To Golden Glory

Triumphant weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has her sights set firmly on Olympic gold, inspired by her new Chinese coach, but first she might just indulge in a guilty passion — cheesecake and bubble tea. [caption id="attachment_23686" align="aligncenter" width="577"] Hidilyn Diaz of Philippines competes in the women's 53kg weightlifting event during the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MONEY SHARMA[/caption] “The sacrifices you make are so hard when you’re training every day,” she told AFP after winning the Philippines’ first gold medal of the 2018 Asian Games on Tuesday. “I can’t eat sugar and sweets. I miss eating cheesecake and drinking bubble tea with friends. It’s hard,” said the sweet-toothed 27-year-old from the southern Philippines island of Mindanao. Diaz has already assured a place in her country’s sporting folklore, alongside the likes of Manny Pacquiao, as the only woman from the sprawling archipelago ever to win an Olympic medal. But now, with top Chinese coach Gao Kaiwen making “a difference” in her corner, she believes she can turn Rio 2016 silver into Tokyo 2020 gold after winning the women’s 53kg event in Jakarta. “My coach has been with me for two months,” she said of Gao, who is also the head coach of the Chinese national women’s army team. “I am so grateful for him. He made a difference in my lifts. He’s a positive person and I like to have him around me,” she added immediately after being presented with her medal. Gao has coached multiple Chinese Olympic medallists including 2012 women’s 75kg+ gold medallist Zhou Lulu. His experience has been invaluable to Philippines Air Force servicewoman Diaz, who has blossomed late in her weightlifting career — she did not even qualify for the last Asian Games in Incheon four years ago, before her breakthrough in Rio. “He changed my technique and more than that made me understand why I need to make the change if I want to win Tokyo 2020.” Gao introduced new routines and heavier weights in training and the results are clear — Diaz lifted 53kg personal bests of 92kg in the snatch and 115kg in the clean and jerk in Jakarta to total 7 kg greater than her Olympic silver effort two years ago. Realize a dream “That change in technique has given me even more confidence,” she said, believing she can push those bests even higher in Tokyo. “I’m really confident (of lifting more) because I was able to lift 115kg in training,” she said. “I just need to know my technique and visualize it. This result proves the Olympic gold medal is possible.” First, she needs to qualify for Tokyo, a cycle that starts at November’s world championships in Turkmenistan. Meanwhile, the busy Diaz will attempt to juggle training with her air force career, college studies and managing her new weightlifting gym opened last year in her hometown of Zamboanga in Mindanao. “I don’t know if I will win (the world title) because I will go back to school,” she said. “But I will do my best.” Diaz’s victory could reportedly be worth as much as P6 million ($112,000) in bonuses awarded to Philippines gold medallists from the government, National Olympic Committee, and other organizations. She said she would invest the money in her gym to give back to weightlifting in the Philippines and leave a legacy after she retires — Tokyo 2020 will be her last event. “My main goal is to help out kids in my hometown and realize their dream in weightlifting,” she said. “This sport could change their lives and hopefully they could become just like me in the future.” Source: rappler.com — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

Weightlifting in spotlight at the 18th Asian Games

On 20th August 2018 the Weightlifting competitions started at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang.   The Verification of Final Entries was concluded one day before. Altogether 62 women and 104 men from 30 countries will compete at this Event. The competition venue is at Jakarta International Expo. The Hall has about 2000 seat capacity and the Training area is equipped with 25 full Eleiko sets. The highlight of the competition so far was when IRAWAN Eko Yuli, Indonesia home favourite won the gold medal in men's 62kg bodyweight category. The President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo presented the medal to IRAWAN, who saluted him throughout the countries national anthem. "I'm a proud Indonesian and pleased for the country to win gold," Irawan told AFP after receiving his medal from president Widodo. "I feel like everything I have fought for I have now finally achieved." In the woman's 53kg bodyweight category, Hidilyn Diaz won the first Philippean gold in the history of Asian Games. Check out the Start List Package here. Source: insidegames.biz — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

Olympic Solidarity Course in Sudan

In the framework of the Olympic Solidarity Program, Sudan Weightlifting Federation organized a Technical Course for Coaches in Khartoum between 7th and 15th of August 2018. The International Weightlifting Federation appointed Mr. Maged Salama as the expert for this Level 1 course which was attended by 26 participants in total. Lectures were given on: Special physical fitness elements in Weightlifting  How to teach special skills Work of muscles in Weightlifting Rules and Regulations The process of a competition The theoretical lectures were followed by practical sessions. At the Closing Ceremony, Mr. Adel Ahmed Mohamed Elhaj, President of the Sudan Weightlifting Federation and Mr. Hussam Hashim Khojaly, General Secretary of Sudan Olympic Committee joined Mr. Salama handing out the certificates to all participants. This is a great example for all IWF National Federations that through their National Olympic Committee they can apply for Olympic Solidarity funds. — Follow IWF: Facebook Instagram Twitter

IWF Executive Board Meeting in Lausanne

The IWF Executive Board (EB) met in Lausanne on 15 August. Its main focus was the IOC’s recent announcement that, while weightlifting’s considerable anti-doping progress is welcome, the sport’s provisional status on the Paris 2024 Olympic Programme will be maintained. With the IOC having subsequently communicated detailed criteria by which it will judge the IWF’s anti-doping success, the EB assessed the work ahead. Joining the EB members present were IOC Director of Sport Kit McConnell and IOC Head of Summer Sports and International Federation Relations David Luckes. Mr McConnell reported on the IOC’s satisfaction at the way the IWF first established an independent group to make recommendations aimed at improving the IWF’s anti-doping efforts, subsequently implementing those recommendations. Key among the IOC’s criteria for confirming weightlifting’s place on the Paris 2024 Olympic Programme have been the development and implementation of measures targeting those countries associated with a disproportionately high number of anti-doping rule violations. Mr McConnell confirmed the IOC’s full and continued support for an Olympic Qualification System that factors in a high incidence of past doping. He further underlined the importance of maintaining and implementing the system in place, following its approval for Tokyo 2020. The EB heard from the Independent Monitoring Group, which has been tasked with establishing that lasting improvements are in fact being made among the IWF member federations suspended following the IOC’s retesting procedures. The EB also heard from Maitre Francois Carrard, former Director General of the IOC and now partner at Kellerhals Carrard. Carrard represents the IWF in the case currently before the Court of Arbitration for Sport, brought by the Weightlifting Federation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He gave update report for the EB on the status of the CAS case brought against the IWF supported by the IOC. The EB concluded its meeting coordinating an action plan based on the IOC requirements. The EB expects that continued positive progress on these issues, critical to weightlifting’s Olympic future, will form a significant part of its next meetings in Ashgabat, prior to the IWF Congress and World Weightlifting

Meeting of the Independent Monitoring Group

The Independent Monitoring Group Members, Kate Mittelstadt and Michael Ask met the Representatives of eight of the nine IWF Member Federations suspended by the IWF Executive Board with 20 October 2017. The President and General Secretary of the IWF and representatives of the IWF Executive Board also attended the meeting. The meeting was also assisted by Clean Sport Commission Chair, Richard Young. The Member Federations had the chance to explain their situation, to provide detailed information about their progress and to raise their questions to the IMG Members in person. An extensive review of the compliance of the nine MFs with the Criteria imposed by the Executive Board has been continuously conducted by the IMG throughout the suspension period. The Group will carry on with its work to monitor the MFs' compliance and to render corresponding decisions in respect of the conditional reinstatement of these MFs. The participants welcomed the constructive discussions conducted at the meeting and the Representatives of the Member Federations expressed one again their determination to work together with the IWF to support and implement measures to provide a level playing field for Clean

Myanmar Weightlifting Federation got encouraged by Vice-Minister

Dr MYA Lay Sein, Vice-President of Myanmar Olympic Committee and Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Health and Sport encouraged and delivered a speech to lifters at the training hall of the Myanmar Weightlifting Federation. The Vice-Minister was welcomed by the General Secretary of the Myanmar Weightlifting Federation, Mr THI Han, officer for MWF's office, Mr MYO Min and coaches of MWF. She encouraged and delivered the speech to lifters participating at the upcoming Asian Games held in Jakarta, and guided the officials travelling as part of the delegation. After that, Mrs MYA Lay Sein took a group photo with the lifters and officials of the Myanmar Weightlifting