MANILA – Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo fell short of a podium finish in the 19th Asian Games women’s 59-kilogram category on Monday afternoon at the XSC Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
Diaz-Naranjo, a gold medal winner in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s 55-kilogram event, finished in fourth place with 223 kilograms total lift — 97 kilograms in snatch and 126 in the clear and jerk.
Kim Ilgyong of North Korea captured the gold medal with world record 246 kilograms (111 kg in snatch and 135 in clear and jerk), China’s Luo Shifang finished with silver with her 240 kilograms, while Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Hsing Chun bagged the bronze with her 227.
Meanwhile, Ilonggo cyclist Patrick Coo crashed but recovered to capture a bronze medal in the men’s Bicycle Motocross (BMX) racing event on Sunday afternoon in Chun’an, China.
Coo, who traced his roots from Iloilo City, scraped the upper part of his right thigh after crashing in the first moto of the 12-cyclist final but went on to salvage a bronze medal finish.
“I feel very happy, I went straight to the biggest one, the Asian Games,” said Coo. “However, I am hurting for sure. I ripped my pants in the process and got it fixed immediately.”
“I’m fast at everything, but I get so much adrenalin most of the time. I need to take it step by step, by staying more calm on the bike,” added the 21-year-old cyclist, who is now based in Switzerland.
Capturing the gold medal is Japanese cyclist Asuma Nakai, a junior bronze medalist in the UCI world championships, while taking home the silver medal is Komet Sukpraset of Thailand.
Meanwhile, boxer Eumir Marcial assured himself of a medal finish in the men’s 80-kilogram division after a second-round stoppage victory over Thai fighter Weerapon Jongjoho in the quarterfinals on Sunday night.
Marcial, a bronze medal winner during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, connected a crushing right hook to send Jongjoho crashing to the canvas to secure his place in the semifinals round.
Marcial will next face Turabek Khabibullalev of Uzbekistan in the semifinals round on Wednesday afternoon for a chance to reach the finals and qualify for a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics./PN
