ASIAN GAMES 2018: DIAZ WINS FIRST PH GOLD; CHINA BEATS GILAS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Aug 2018
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz won the first gold medal for the country in the ongoing Asian Games 2018, topping the women's 53-kilograms event in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. Diaz lifted 92 kilograms in the snatch and 115 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a total of 207 kilograms.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist bested Turkeminstan?s Kristina Shermetova, who settled for the silver medal after she was leading by topping the snatch with 93 kilograms.
Shermetova faltered in an attempt to jerk 116 kilograms and her clean and jerk was only 113 kilograms and was overtaken by Diaz.
Thailand's Surodchana Khambao won the bronze with a total lift of 201 kilograms.
With the win, Diaz is confident that winning the Olympic gold could be achieved.
?I am grateful to God that I won the gold medal that all of us Filipinos dream of,? Diaz said. ?This proves the Olympic gold medal is possible.?
Meanwhile in men's basketball, Zhao Rui converted two free throws with 13 seconds left to lift China in beating Gilas Pilipinas, 82-80, yesterday in Jakarta.
Cleveland Cavaliers' stalwart Jordan Clarkson led the Philippines' assault against the taller Chinese. Our countrymen was even ahead 80-77 with less than two minutes left in the game.
For coach Yeng Guiao, the performance was a moral victory.
?We had a chance to win the game with the last shot but those are the breaks of the game,? Guiao said. ?The effort is really good and I give credit to the boys. To me, this is like a won game.?
Clarkson top-scored for the Gilas with 28 points, with 5 triples to go with 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals as he delivered within expectations. Christian Standardinger contributed 18 points while Stanley Pringle had 14.
Houston Rockets? Zhou Qi led China with 25 points. Dallas Mavericks? Ding Yanyuhang had 7.
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