Weightlifter Elreen Ando smashed three records on the way to a gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Filipina was hardly challenged in the women’s 59-kilogram division, setting three Games marks in the process.
Ando posted 98 in the snatch and 118 in the clean and jerk for a total lift of 216 kgs.
The previous records were held by Vietnamese Hoang Thi Duyen who settled for the bronze medal.
“That was the plan. Me and my coaches really made sure we surpass those records,” said the Cebu lifter.
Last year in the Vietnam Games, Ando took the silver in the women’s 64-kg. class with a lift of 223 kgs., also a Philippine record.
Ando, who went down in weight, is hoping to qualify for the Paris Olympics next year.
‘That was the plan. Me and my coaches really made sure we surpass those records.’
Her total lift, however, was still two kilograms short of the national record set by Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz last week during the Asian championships.
With two days remaining, the Philippines breached the 40-gold mark after collecting nine, bringing its total to 46. It also garnered 70 silvers and 83 bronzes as of 7:34 p.m. (Manila time).
The golden blitz enabled the Philippines to overtake Singapore for fifth place.
Vietnam continued to top the medal tally with 95 golds followed by Thailand with 81.
Carlo Paalam, Paul Bascon and Nesthy Petecio hurdled their respective bouts to account for boxing’s three golds.
Paalam dominated his bout with Indonesian Aldoms Suguro to earn a unanimous decision in the men’s 54-kg. division final.
Photograph by Ivan Suing for the Daily Tribune | BOXER Carlo Paalam faces the media after winning the gold in the men’s 54-kilogram division.
Bascon, on the other hand, hacked out a 3-1 decision over Thai Rujakran Juntrong in the final of the men’s 60-kg.
Petecio, an Olympian, mauled Indonesian Ratna Sari Devi in the women’s 57-kg.
Norlan Petecio and John Marvin settled for silvers in their respective divisions.
Petecio bowed to Thai Bunjong Sinsiri in the men’s 67-kg. while Marvin was beaten by Thai Weerapon Jongjoho in the men’s 80-kg.
The other golds came from wrestling (1), judo (1), e-sports (1) and arnis (2).
Wrestling produced gold through Jason Balabal and three silvers.
Balabal hurdled two bouts to win the men’s Greco Roman 82-kg.
The silvers were delivered by Michael Cater in the men’s 55-kg., Noel Norada in the men’s 62-kg. and Jason Baucas in the men’s 72 kg.
Judo contributed one gold, one silver and one bronze.
In judo, Rene Furukawa beat Chu Myat Noe Wai of Myanmar in the final of the women’s under-57 kg. division. She reached the gold medal bout by ousting Le Ngoc Diem Phuong in the semifinals.
Shugen Nakano took the silver in the men’s under-66 kg. after winding up with a 3-1 record in the round-robin format.
Dary Mercado settled for the bronze after falling to Thai Jetsadakorn Suksai in the semifinals of the men’s under-55 kgs.
The Filipinos also secured gold in the e-sports event of the Men’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, sweeping Malaysia, 3-0, in the final.
The team is composed of Angelo Arcangel, David Canon, Marco Requitiano, Michael Sayson, Rowgien Unigo and Nowee Macasa.
Before nightfall, the Nationals picked up two golds in arnis courtesy of Charlotte Tolentino in the women’s full-contact padded stick bantamweight and Jedah Mae Soriano in the women’s full-contact padded stick lightweight.
In women’s basketball, the Filipinas inched closer to a silver medal finish after plastering Thailand, 82-70.
A win over Malaysia on Monday will seal the deal for the women’s squad.
Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas took a rest on Sunday, the eve of the men’s basketball semifinals where they face either defending champion Indonesia or Thailand.
