![Margielyn Arda Didal of the Philippines reacts after her first run in the skateboarding women's street final of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Sports Park in Tokyo on July 26, 2021](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2021/07/000_9GD4XF-620x413.jpg)
Margielyn Arda Didal – PHOTO FROM THE RESEARCH FILE
Sidelined by a sore ankle over a year ago, Margielyn Didal remains a work in progress in terms of reviving her drive to retain the Asian Games (Asiad) title.
The fearless skateboard warrior from Cebuano went under the knife to repair a broken left foot and is gradually working his way back into the groove to be in top form to defend the women’s street event tiara.
“As of now, I am still focused on my recovery while rebuilding my confidence to get comfortable with my board again,” said Didal, designated as the country’s female flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 19th Asiad here in Hangzhou Olympic Sports. Center Stadium on Saturday.
24-year-old Didal, who arrived on Wednesday with the four-athlete skateboarding team, seriously injured her ankle during the Red Bull Skate Levels in Brazil last year.
It has since taken a long time for Didal to get back on her board to boost her bid for the continental competition, which served as a springboard for her sudden fame in 2018 in Indonesia.
“It was eleven months ago that I was forced to quit. We trained in Thailand before coming here, so we’ll see how it feels,” Didal said.
Didal’s gold added to that “women’s power” at the 2018 Asian Games, where Team Philippines collected four gold medals, including the individual victories of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and golfer Yuka Saso, who also led the women’s team to victory alongside Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go. .
After gaining instant fame in Asia, Didals became a household name in Philippine skateboarding, taking two more golds during the Philippine hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Tagaytay City.
Didal joined Christiana Means as the first Filipino female skateboarder to compete in the 2019 Street League Skateboarding Championships in Rio de Janeiro.
Everything seemed to be going well when Didal wore the national colors again at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where she finished seventh in the medal round before disaster struck last year.
“My goal here is to reach the final. From there I will try to reach the podium,” promised Didal, who will take action on September 27.