Malaysian Weightlifting Federation deputy president Ahmad Janius Abdullah beaming with pride. (BERNAMA PHOTO via THE STAR/ANN)
Malaysian Weightlifting Federation deputy president Ahmad Janius Abdullah said he was touched when Hidilyn Diaz called him from Tokyo to inform him that she had won the Olympic gold medal, a report said.
The foster father of the Philippines’ first Olympic champion said the weightlifter had yearned for the gold and had proven herself now.
Ahmah Janius, in a report on Malaysian newspaper Harian Metro, said Diaz had called him asking for a place to train and he decided to take her to his mother-in-law’s house in Kampung Kesang, Jasin, Melaka, last September.
“The front garage was renovated and turned into her training ground until she left for Tokyo on July 18,” he said.
“I did not think she would tell the whole world that she had prepared herself at a village house.
“When she mentioned Melaka, I was really touched.
“She also told me that she intends to continue training here when she returns from Tokyo to prepare for the World Weightlifting Championships in December.”
Philippines’ Hidilyn Diaz competes in the women’s 55kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
Although Diaz was fussy about her training, she was comfortable in the village and mixed easily with others, Ahmad Janius said.
“We are like family. Just before her event in Tokyo, I called her and asked her to be better in snatch as that is the category she was weak in.
“She is not stingy with her knowledge and also trained upcoming athletes at the same place.”
The daily also said Diaz loved the spicy dish, especially asam pedas (sour and spicy fish stew).
“I can say that she’s visited almost all the shops selling asam pedas in Jasin,” Ahmad Janius quipped.
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