Hidilyn juggles coaching, SEAG prep

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Hidilyn Diaz doesn’t mind balancing her training for the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and helping out her weightlifters from Rizal in the ongoing 2025 Batang Pinoy at the Barangay Labangal Gym here.

Diaz, the country’s first ever Olympic gold medalist, said seeing her weightlifters vie for medals in the biggest grassroots program organized by the Philippine Sports Commission gives her motivation to train hard as well.

She added that being with her lifters had a positive effect on her training as she gears up for her campaign in the women’s 58-kilogram category of the biennial meet that will be held in Bangkok from 9 to 20 December.

“I’m teaching in the morning and training in the afternoon and in the evening. So, I’m happy that my numbers are getting higher,” said Diaz, who will be making her first SEA Games appearance since conquering the 55-kilogram category in Vietnam in 2022.

“I’m happy to be with the kids. Seeing them motivates me and gives me more passion to represent our country.”

Diaz said her goal is to perform at her highest level after she did not participate in the IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Norway last 2 to 11 October.

“For now, I just want to do my best and it’s my honor and pride to represent our country,” said Diaz, who was with her husband and coach, Julius Naranjo, in this week-long grassroots event.

Naranjo said he is optimistic about his wife’s chances in the SEA Games despite overseeing the coaching duties in the Batang Pinoy.

“She’s still focused on the SEA Games. She’s still working hard for it,” Naranjo said.

“So I think in terms of what her results will be, we’re still training hard and I think we’ll leave that for the Lord to decide.”