MANILA – Filipina weightlifter Elreen Ann Ando failed to duplicate the gold medal feat of Hidilyn Diaz after faltering in her event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s weightlifting last night at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo, Japan.
The Cebu City native Ando settled for a seventh-place finish in women’s 64-kilogram category with her total of 222 kilograms (kg) lift – 100 in Snatch and 122 in Clean and Jerk.
In the Snatch, Ando was successful in her first lift of 96 kg but struggled in her second lift of 97 kg before completing her third and final attempt with 100 kg.
In the Clean and Jerk, Ando obtained a 118 kg in her first lift but was ruled as a no lift in her second carry of 122 kg. She ended her campaign with a 122 kg lift on the third try.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella said that Ando’s performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is impressive ahead of her second Olympic try in 2024 in Paris.
“She’s still just a project, needing exposure, experience, and polishing to hit her potential. The next Olympics is the target. She would be good for Paris,” Puentevella added.
Meanwhile, Filipina-Japanese Kiyomi Watanabe’s Summer Games debut lasted for only 38 seconds after being booted out in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s judo round-of-32 on Tuesday at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe, who traced her roots in Cebu, failed to move forward in the 63-kilogram category after bowing down to Spain’s Cristina Cabana Perez.
The 24-year-old gold medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games launched an early attack on Perez, but the latter managed to pin the former down via Sumi otoshi throw, 38 seconds into the five-minute match to win by ippon.
The Filipino-Japanese judoka booked a slot in the Olympics via continental quota after her solid performance in the 2019 World Championships, where she amassed 320 points./PN
