Hidilyn Diaz showcased peak form and took home the gold in the 2020 Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF) Eleiko Email International Lifters on Thursday.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist topped the women's 59-kilogram division by fielding a video entry where she lifted a total of 216 kilograms, 95kg in snatch and 121kgs in clean and jerk.
Diaz beat Australia's Fatima Yakabu (189kg) and South Africa's Johanni Taljaard (188kg), as well as 47 other weightlifters for her first virtual gold.
"Congratulations Hidilyn Diaz for winning in the 59kg category of the 2020 Oceania Weightlifting Federation (OWF) Eleiko Email International Lifters Tournament. We are proud of you," the Philippine Sports Commission said in a Twitter post.
The competition was held on July 24 and 25, which would have been the first few days of the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
"Dapat maglalaro ako kahapon sa #Tokyo2020 [pero] dahil sa COVID-19, na-postpone ang Olympics, na-move next year," Diaz posted on Twitter, along with a video of her lift. "Buti nalang may online competition, nakabuhat ako ng 95 kgs sa snatch 121kgs sa clean and jerk."
Diaz, currently fourth in the 55kg women's world rankings, is virtually assured of a spot in the Games, though she still needs to officially win her last Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year to book her fourth straight Olympics appearance.