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First medal since 1996
Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz handed the Philippines its first medal in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games early morning on Monday, Manila time, ABS-CBN reports.
Diaz, who is competing in her third straight Olympics, took the silver medal in the women’s 53-kg division won by Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching.
Her silver win is the Philippines’ first medal since 1996 when boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco bagged the silver in the Atlanta Olympic Games.
The Filipina weightlifter scored 88 in snatch and 112 in clean and jerk, for a total of 200, against Chinese Taipei’s 212.
South Korea’s Yoon Jin Hee came in at third with 199.
Filipino swimmer Jessie Khing Lacuna crashed out of the competition after failing to make the cut in his event at the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil on Saturday.
Lacuna, who competed in the Games for the second time, finished sixth in Heat 2 of the men’s 400m freestyle.
Earlier, Filipina table tennis player Ian Lariba bowed to higher ranked Congolese Han Xing in straight sets of their best of seven match.
The Philippines opened its campaign in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio with a loss after table tennis player Ian Lariba was overpowered by her Congolese opponent on Friday.
Congo’s Han Xing beat Lariba straight sets of their best of seven match, 11-7, 13-11, 11-9, 11-7.
Lariba was the flag-bearer of the Philippine delegation during the opening ceremonies on Friday. She was the first Filipina table tennis player to qualify for the Olympics.