RIO Olympics 2016 silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz's preparations for the upcoming 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2017 in Ashgabat City, Turkmenistan.
The 26-year-old Barangay Mampang native of Zamboanga City, during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao last week, said she's been training since January.
"Itong May rigid na. Six times a week na akong nagbubuhat, three times a week ang strength and conditioning. Malapit na rin akong mag 11-session a week," Diaz said after she graced the opening of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC)-backed Summer Children's Games 2017 at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center, May 25.
She also limited her units this semester at College of Saint Benilde to focus on her training.
She said, "Nine units lang muna ako ngayon, sa Fridays lang mabigat kong schedule sa klase, six hours... three hours per subject. Tuloy parin ang training ko the rest of the week."
Diaz is not seeing action in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur as women's weightlifting was scrapped by the host country.
Thus, she instead focused on training for the Asian meet in Turkmenistan.
Meanwhile, Diaz is upbeat about the construction of her gymnasium in Mampang.
"Ang dream ko po matutupad na," she said, adding that it is scheduled to open on August 7.
Part of the cash incentives she got for winning the silver in Rio Olympics 2016 was spent on the gym.
Although she plans to open the gym for others to help in its maintenance, she maintained, "Para po talaga sa mga batang weightlifters yung gym."
