TOKYO: Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz made history on Monday when she became the first athlete from the Philippines to win an Olympic gold medal.
The 30-year-old Rio 2016 silver medallist from the southern city of Zamboanga realized her dream in the women’s 55kg class at the Tokyo International Forum, smashing her personal best to see off world record holder Liao Qiuyun of China who had to settle for silver.
With Liao setting a target of 223kg, just four kilogrammes shy of her own world record, Diaz was faced with a final clean and jerk of 127kg to win — fully 5kg more than she had ever achieved in competition.
With a massive effort she hoisted the huge Olympic record weight and the tears of joy began to flow even before she dropped the bar to the floor after a triumphant effort.
Liao took the silver, with Kazakhstan’s Zulfiya Chinshanlo the bronze 10kg adrift of the top two.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s a dream, come true,” Diaz told AFP moments after the Philippines Air Force woman shed more tears on the podium as she saluted her flag and sung the national anthem.
“I want to say to the young generation in the Philippines, ‘You can have this dream of gold too’.
“This is how I started and finally I was able to do it.”
Diaz was already assured a place in her country’s sporting folklore, alongside the likes of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, as the only woman from the sprawling archipelago ever to win an Olympic medal — her surprise silver five years ago breaking a 20-year medal drought for the Philippines.
Diaz spent the last year and a half training in exile in Malaysia because of Covid restrictions, so dedicated was she to claim an unprecedented gold in her fourth and probably final Games.
“I’m looking forward to going back home to the Philippines to be with my family because I really miss them,” she said, choking up once more with emotion.
“I’m looking forward now to enjoy my life after so many sacrifices.”
Diaz’s medal was just the 11th by the Philippines since they first took part in the Olympics in 1924, and now the only gold.
Diaz became just the second athlete from her country to win multiple Olympic medals, joining swimmer Teofilo Yldefonzo who won bronze in the men’s 200m breaststroke in 1928 and 1932.
She became a national hero for her exploits in Rio and her profile soared when she won Asian Games gold in Jakarta in 2018.
But on that occasion China were suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation for multiple doping violations.
China have been dominant since their return later in 2018 and have had it all their own way so far in Tokyo in the absence of fierce rivals North Korea.
The first three weightlifting golds were all won by Chinese athletes — in the women’s 49kg through Hou Zhihui on Saturday and men’s winners Li Fabin (61kg) and Chen Lijun (67kg) on Sunday.
Liao was gracious in defeat as the Chinese gold rush in weightlifting was halted in stunning fashion.
“I really respect Diaz as an opponent because she did the best she could, in fact better than that and that is the ultimate,” Liao said.
“She did a better job and it is nice for all the people that were supporting her.”
Diaz, known as “Haidee,” has a huge social media following in her home country which is set to grow.
Internet platforms instantly turned her into the country’s top trending topic on Twitter as news of her win spread, upstaging President Rodrigo Duterte’s final State of the Nation address.
“Congratulations, Sgt Hidilyn Diaz!” tweeted the Armed Forces of the Philippines where the weightlifter is enlisted.
Vice President Leni Robredo said: “Big win for the Philippines!! Thank you for making us proud, Hidilyn.”
Duterte’s spokesman, Harry Roque, congratulated Diaz “for bringing pride and glory to the Philippines.”
Weightlifter Diaz wins first ever Olympic gold for Philippines
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Weightlifter Diaz wins first ever Olympic gold for Philippines
Al-Ittihad denied crucial win by late Al-Okhdood strike
- Okhdood are just two points off safety at the bottom of the table following draw
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad were held to a 1-1 draw by Al-Okhdood on Sunday and while the leaders moved six points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League, it was a frustrating evening in Jeddah.
Deep into injury time and just seconds away from the final whistle, the Tigers were leading and ready to go eight points above Al-Hilal but a late, late equaliser means that there is plenty of life left in the title race yet. It also means that Okhdood are just two points off safety at the bottom of the table.
At half-time, Al-Ittihad were looking good to take full advantage of Al-Hilal’s loss against Al-Ahli on Friday. Karim Benzema and Moussa Diaby have been in fine attacking form this season and came close to breaking the deadlock in the opening half-hour.
It came, however, six minutes before the break, Houssem Aouar grabbed his tenth goal of the season to put the Jeddah giants ahead. It was a special strike. The Algerian received a pass from Hassan Kadesh on the left corner of the penalty box, spun to lose his marker, and then danced into the area to fire a low shot into the opposite corner.
In the second half, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Laurent Blanc’s men extended their lead and sealed a crucial win. Soon after the restart, Benzema hit the post as the French forward looked for his 17th league goal of the season. More chances came, for the former Real Madrid star as well as his team-mates but none were converted. It all meant that Al-Ittihad were left to regret their wastefulness in the 97th minute.
The league leaders failed to clear a corner from the left and the ball fell to Christian Bassogog at the edge of the area and the Cameroonian left fly with a fierce shot that flew into the top corner. T
he home crowd were stunned into silence while, in Riyadh, there was suddenly a little hope with 11 games left to play.
Barcelona routs 10-man Real Sociedad 4-0 to go top in Spain
- “Very happy with the match we played,” Araujo said. “It was important to win and become leaders again. It was a great effort by the team”
MADRID: Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 rout over 10-man Real Sociedad to regain the lead in Spain on Sunday.
Gerard Martín, Marc Casadó, Ronald Araujo and Robert Lewandowski scored a goal each to put Barcelona one point ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top of the Spanish league. Barcelona is three points ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, which lost 2-1 at Real Betis on Saturday, when Atletico beat Athletic Bilbao 1-0 at home.
“Very happy with the match we played,” Araujo said. “It was important to win and become leaders again. It was a great effort by the team.”
Sociedad played a man down from the 17th minute after Aritz Elustondo was sent off with a straight red card for grabbing Barcelona forward Dani Olmo to stop a breakaway.
“It was a clear red card,” Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil said. “After that there was no game. It’s already hard 11 against 11 against them, you can imagine with a man down.”
It was the sixth win in a row for Barcelona in the league, and the second loss in three matches for Sociedad, which stayed in ninth place.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rested some regular starters ahead of the team’s Champions League match at Benfica on Wednesday in the first leg of the round of 16.
Prolific Lewandowski
Barcelona was in control from the start at Montjuic stadium, with Martín scoring in the 25th and Casadó in the 29th. Araujo added to the lead in the 56th and Lewandowski closed the scoring in the 60th for his eighth goal in his last nine matches.
Lewandowski now has 34 goals this season in all competitions, one more than the 33 he scored in what had been his previous best season with the Catalan club in 2022-23.
Sociedad, which along with Barcelona, Madrid and Atletico is playing in the Copa del Rey semifinals, struggled from the start and had no attempts on goal. Barcelona had 33 total attempts.
Sociedad defender Hamari Traoré entered the match in the second half to mark his return to action nearly six months after having to undergo knee surgery.
Earlier Sunday, striker Diego García scored two minutes into second-half stoppage time to give 16th-placed Leganes a 1-0 win over 14th-placed Getafe in a match between teams from the Madrid area.
Valencia later Sunday has a chance to move out of the relegation zone with a win at Osasuna.
Welbeck sinks Newcastle as Brighton reach FA Cup quarters
- The Seagulls have never lifted the Challenge Cup and last reached the final in 1983
NEWCASTLE: Danny Welbeck sent Brighton into the FA Cup quarterfinals as his extra-time strike clinched a dramatic 2-1 win against Newcastle in a stormy clash scarred by red cards for both teams.
Alexander Isak’s penalty put Newcastle ahead in the fifth-round tie at St. James’ Park.
Former Newcastle winger Yankuba Minteh equalized before the break, setting the stage for an explosive second half.
Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon was sent off for violent conduct in the 83rd minute after shoving Brighton’s Jan Paul van Hecke in the head.
Brighton were also reduced to 10 men late in the second half when Tariq Lamptey was dismissed for a second booking.
Fabian Hurzeler’s side emerged victorious thanks to Welbeck’s strike in the closing stages of extra time.
Brighton have never lifted the FA Cup and last reached the final in 1983 when they lost in a replay against Manchester United. The Seagulls have won five successive matches since their 7-0 thrashing at Nottingham Forest.
They are through to the quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons after winning at St. James’ Park for the second time this season.
It was a bitter blow for Newcastle, who haven’t won a domestic trophy since landing the 1955 FA Cup, while their last major trophy was the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
Unless Newcastle appeal against Gordon’s three-match ban, they will be without one of their key players for the League Cup final against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley on March 16.
Newcastle made a vibrant start as Harvey Barnes lofted a pin-point cross to the far post, where Isak blazed over from close-range after his initial effort was blocked by Adam Webster.
Isak tested Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen with a long-range drive before Newcastle took the lead in the 22nd minute.
Minteh conceded a penalty with his rash challenge on Tino Livramento. Isak confidently lashed the spot kick into the top corner.
It was Isak’s 22nd goal in all competitions this season and the Sweden striker had the ball in the net again with a ferocious blast, only for an offside flag to curtail his celebrations.
Newcastle looked in complete command when Anthony Gordon cut inside for a curler that Verbruggen saved at full stretch.
But Brighton snatched an equalizer against the run of play in the 44th minute.
Joao Pedro’s superb pass picked out Minteh inside the area and the Gambian’s shot took a deflection as it flashed past Newcastle keeper Martin Dubravka.
It was a sweet moment for Minteh, who joined Brighton from Newcastle last year in a £30 million ($37 million) deal.
Gordon saw red with seven minutes left in normal time, the England star lashing out at Van Hecke as they challenged for the ball after play was stopped for offside against Isak.
Lamptey followed Gordon down the tunnel in stoppage-time after the Brighton defender’s rash foul on Jacob Murphy.
Fabian Schar thought he had volleyed Newcastle’s winner in stoppage-time, but the defender was ruled offside after a VAR check.
Brighton came on strong in extra time. Dubravka made a fine stop to keep out Diego Gomez’s rocket from the edge of the area.
Newcastle had wilted and Welbeck won it for the Seagulls in the 114th minute, racing onto Solly March’s defense-splitting pass and clipping his shot over Dubravka.
India set up ICC Champions Trophy clash with Australia
- India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to security reasons
DUBAI: Spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 5-42 as India beat New Zealand by 44 runs on Sunday to set up a semifinal clash with Australia in the Champions Trophy.
India won all three of their group matches to top Group A and will play the first semifinal of the 50-over tournament in Dubai on Tuesday.
New Zealand will take on Group B winners South Africa in Lahore on Wednesday.
India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium after they refused to tour hosts Pakistan due to security reasons.
Australia and South Africa had to travel to Dubai from Pakistan despite not knowing if they would be playing there, as India were told ahead of the tournament they would play the first semifinal if they qualified no matter where they finished in the group.
South Africa will now have to fly back to Pakistan ahead of their meeting with New Zealand.
Shreyas Iyer’s 79 and a late 45 by Hardik Pandya steered India to 249-9 after being invited to bat first.
New Zealand pace bowler Matt Henry stood out with figures of 5-42 from his eight overs.
Chakravarthy took his first ODI five-wicket haul in just his second match as India bowled out New Zealand for 205 in 45.3 overs despite a valiant 81 by Kane Williamson.
Williamson survived two dropped catches on 17 and 68 in his 120-ball knock before he finally fell, stumped off Axar Patel.
New Zealand lost Rachin Ravindra early as Patel took a superb catch to dismiss the opener for six.
Chakravarthy cut short Will Young’s innings on 22 when he bowled him with a googly.
Williamson stood firm but could not find a long-term partner as Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham were dismissed for 17 and 14 respectively.
India’s spinners dominated in helpful conditions, as Kuldeep Yadav sent back Mitchell and Ravindra Jadeja trapped Latham lbw.
In between the two wickets, Williamson hit Jadeja for a boundary to raise his 47th ODI half-century but India kept taking wickets.
Earlier, India were in trouble at 30-3 when Virat Kohli, playing in his 300th one-day international, fell victim to a stunning one-handed catch from Glenn Phillips.
An airborne Phillips clung on to a fast-traveling ball at backward point to dimiss Kohli for 11 off Henry.
Kohli was left standing in disbelief before trudging off the ground to stunned silence.
Iyer and Patel, who made 42, put on 98 for the fourth wicket to rebuild the innings against a disciplined New Zealand attack.
Another stunning catch, this time by Williamson, who flung himself to his left at backward point to make a one-handed grab close to the ground, dismissed Jadeja for 16 off Henry.
Pandya struck four fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball innings to give India a total which proved to be enough.
Pakistan Cricket Board announces full ticket refunds for rain-washed Champions Trophy matches
- The matches were due to be played between Australia and South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan
- Ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if a Champion Trophy match is abandoned before toss
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a full ticket refund for Champions Trophy matches that were abandoned without a ball being bowled at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium last month, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The matches were due to be played between Australia and South Africa on Feb. 25, and Bangladesh and Pakistan on Feb. 27, but rain washed out both games in Rawalpindi.
According to the PCB Ticket Refund Policy for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, ticket holders are eligible for a full refund if a match is abandoned before the toss.
“Ticket holders can claim their refund between 10th to 14th of this month [March],” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“The purchaser will have to visit a designated outlet along with the original ticket.”
Hosts Pakistan crashed out of the tournament after a humiliating six-wicket loss to archrivals India.
The winner of Sunday’s match between India and New Zealand will play Australia in the semifinal, with the loser taking on South Africa.
Irrespective of the placing and opponent, India will play the first semifinal in Dubai on Tuesday after they refused to travel to Pakistan because of political tensions.
New Zealand will leave for Lahore after Sunday’s match, with the second semifinal to be played at Qaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
