HANGZHOU, China — John Febuar Ceniza fell short of clinching a bronze medal in the men’s 61-kilogram event weightlifting competition of the 19th Asian Games here.
The 25-year-old pride of Cebu lifted a total of 297 kgs but it wasn’t enough as he was a kilo short of outshining third-placer Chungguk Kim of North Korea at the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.
Kim finished with a total lift of 298 kgs built around 127 kgs from snatch and 171 kgs from clean and jerk while Ceniza posted 134 kgs in snatch and 163 kgs in clean and jerk.
Fabin Li, the champion in the Tokyo Olympics, reigned supreme as he shattered the Asian Games record with an impressive 310 kgs total lift. He also posted a new record of 143 kgs in snatch before tallying 167 kgs in clean and jerk.
Another North Korean in Myongjin Pak secured the silver after netting 307 kgs in the total built around 136 kgs in snatch and 171 kgs in clean and jerk.
Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz is set to take center stage on Monday in the women’s 59-kg event before fellow Tokyo Olympic veteran Elreen Ann Ando troops to the floor in the women’s 64-kg class.
Diaz will be competing in a heavier weight class, but she vowed to come up prepared to capture her second Asian Games gold medal.
“Whether it’s the Olympics or the Asian Games, I have to be ready to compete,” Diaz, who used to compete in the 55-kg class, said.
In her initial foray in the 59-kg event, Diaz greatly struggled as she finished seventh in the IWF World Championships recently.
“I just want to represent the country in the Asian Games. This is the second biggest competition next to the Olympics.”
Meanwhile, Rosegie Ramos earlier missed out on a medal after placing fifth in the women’s 49-kg event on Saturday.
