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[av_heading heading=’Olympian lifter Diaz hailed ‘2016 Athlete of the Year’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – For ending a two-decade Olympic medal drought, Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz looms as the top choice for the coveted Athlete of the Year award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA).
Diaz captured the silver medal in the women’s weightlifting event of the 2016 Rio Olympics, enough for her to be recognized in the annual Awards Night slated Feb. 13 at the Le Pavilion in Pasay City.
Her feat marked the national team’s first Olympic medal achievement since Bago City, Negros Occidental boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco bagged a silver medal in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996.
The Zamboanga City-native Diaz has postponed her retirement as she aims to qualify to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she plans to upgrade her silver medal to a golden finish.
Last year, Negrense Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire Jr. and golfer Miguel Tabuena were joint recipients of the citation bestowed by the country’s oldest media organization composed of editors and sportswriters from both the print and online portals.
As part of the two-hour program, the President’s Award, Lifetime Achievement honor, Executive of the Year, National Sports Association of the Year, Mr. Basketball, Mr. Golf, Mr. Football and Ms. Volleyball will also be handed out.
Athletes who earned Olympic berths through qualifying tournaments are likewise to be cited, namely tracksters Eric Cray, Marestella Torres and Mary Joy Tabal; weightlifter Nestor Colonia; table tennis player Ian Lariba; boxers Roger Ladon and Charly Suarez; taekwondo jin Kirstie Alora; and golfer Miguel Tabuena./PN
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