The medal search for the Philippine national weightlifting team continues as Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and 2023 Southeast Asian Games champion Elreen Ando failed to make the top three in the women’s 55-kilogram event of the IWF World Championships in Riyadh Saturday.
Diaz, who is gunning for a fifth Summer Games appearance, only mustered a seventh-place finish after a snatch of 97kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 127kgs for a total lift of 224kgs.
Ando came in at eighth with a total lift of 222kgs after her snatch of 100kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 122kgs.
The World Championships is one of the events where weightlifters can acquire qualifying points to get into the Paris Olympics.
China’s Luo Shifang won the event with a total lift of 243kgs while two-time European champion Kamila Konotop of Ukraine settled for a silver with 236kgs.
Chinese defending champion Pei Xinyi got third place after an overall lift of 232kgs.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE that Diaz and Ando are determined to bounce back in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
“Hidilyn will go for 59kgs and Ando for 64kgs in the Asian Games. China is quite strong but we shall do our best as usual. Let God do the rest!” Puentevella said in an online message.
So far, the Philippines has yet to land on the podium of the World Championships as Rosegie Ramos landed in seventh place in the women’s 49kg event and SEA Games silver medalist Lovey Inan failed to lift a snatch in three tries and was unranked.
SEA Games silver medalist John Ceniza also failed to make it to the podium after winding up fifth in the men’s 61kg event.
Asian champion Vanessa Sarno and SEA Games champion Kristel Macrohon will be the final participants of the Philippines as they join the women’s 71kg event on 14 September at 12 midnight (Manila time).
