Ando wins three silvers in Asian weightlifting meet

TWO-TIME Olympian Elreen Ando showed she’s the country’s best hope for another Olympic medal after she scooped up three silvers Sunday night in the Asian Weightlifting Championships at the Hunsan Sports Park in Zhejiang, China.

Ms. Ando, who competed in the 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Games, lifted 102 kilograms in snatch and 130 kg in clean and jerk for a combined lift of 232 kg, which were good for three silvers in the women’s 64 kg division.

The Southeast Asian Games gold winner from Cebu valiantly battled a heavily favored Li Shuang of China but ended up falling short as the latter swept all three golds with a total lift of 239 kg from 105 kg in snatch and 134 kg in clean and jerk.

Korean Mun Minhee took the three bronzes with a 214 kg total, 94 kg snatch and 120 kg clean and jerk.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas chief Monico Puentevella said medaling here could translate into a medal in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics since he expects Asians to dominate the quadrennial event.

“I think Asians will rule LA,” he said. “So if we get a silver here, we will have a strong chance in LA.”

That hiked the country’s total to seven silvers and the same number of bronzes.

Kristel Macrohon hopes to win the country’s first gold in the event as she competes in the women’s 69 kg today. — Joey Villar