Hidilyn Diaz misses podium at 2025 SEA Games due to injury, mental hurdles

Hidilyn Diaz finished fourth in the women's 58kg division of the 2025 Southeast Asian Games with a total lift of 200kg.

She achieved a 90kg snatch and a 110kg clean and jerk but missed later attempts due to a right knee injury, difficulties with weight-cutting, and mental hurdles.

The Philippines' first Olympic gold medalist revealed she has been dealing with a persistent right knee injury since the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Diaz-Naranjo shared that after not qualifying for the Paris Olympics, her motivation wavered, and she found mental training more challenging than physical training.

She expressed that after almost two years of not competing, she missed the feeling of playing for the Philippines and achieving a podium finish.

When asked about retirement, she did not give a definite answer.