By Riera U. Mallari
HANGZHOU – Olympian Elreen Ando snuck in a bronze medal in weightlifting when nobody was looking in the 19th Asian Games at XSC Gymnasium on Monday.
Ando, a veteran of the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, had 96 in the snatch and 126 in the clean and jerk in the 64-kg finals for a 222 total that was good for bronze, the Philippines’ 8th to go with a gold and a bronze at 20th spot overall.
North Korea’s Rim Unsim ruled the event with total of 251, 111 in the snatch and 140 in the clean and jerk – all Asian Games records.
China’s Pei Xinyi was her runner-up with a 234 (14 and 130).
“Hindi ko po ine-expect na mag-medal, kasi po bilog ang plates, hindi rin natin alam kung ano ang entry ng kalaban,” said Ando, who admitted depression caught up with her during the Asian Championships in Jinju, Korea, where she came out empty handed.
“Pero nakabawi na po dito,” Ando said.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella reiterated his belief that North Korea won’t be allowed by the International Weightlifting Federation in the 2024 Paris Olympics for refusing doping tests for its athletes.
“Kung wala ang North Korea, may tsansa ito,” said Puentevella as he gave the 24-year-old Ando a tight embrace at the Mixed Zone.
Like Tokyo Olympics’ gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Ando needs to join two more qualifying tournaments — the World Cups in Qatar this December and in Thailand in February to earn seats to the Paris games.
There, Puentevella said, Ando will slide down to her usual weight category at 59kgs, where she will go up against Diaz.
“Laban sila ni Hidi isa 59. Magandang performance niya dito, laban sila. Ang importante, siya ang nakasalba sa amin dito para magkamedalya ang weightlifting,” added the weightlifting chief.
Ando, who stands to receive P500,000 as an incentive for her bronze medal, says she will treat her family in Cebu, but the ultimate goal is a house and lot.
If she medals in Paris, that dream will be a reality.