(UPDATE) TWO-TIME Olympian Elreen Ando said her teammate and Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz served as her inspiration after she and several others have qualified for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

"Thank you for being my inspiration, ate [Hidilyn]," she wrote on Facebook on Friday.

Both Olympians would have a photo op together in an Instagram story from Ando herself, with the caption, "Picture with my idol."

Diaz, who was defeated by Ando during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Phuket, Thailand last week, said her teammate's qualification into the Olympics was "well-deserved."

"Kalaro, kaibigan, kasama. (Teammate, friend, comrade.) Congrats @andoks59 [Ando's Instagram handle], well-deserved to have the slot in Paris 2024," Diaz wrote to Ando.

During the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket last week, Ando defeated Diaz for the Olympic ticket in the women's 59 kilogram division by 4 kg, having lifted 228 kg over Diaz's 224 kg.

Without Diaz, the Philippines now has three weightlifters qualified for the Olympics, namely Ando, John Ceniza, Rosegie Ramos and Vanessa Sarno.

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