Ando plunges into action

Tokyo and Paris Olympics veteran Elreen Ando has a chance to give the Philippines its third medal in the IWF World Championships as she competes in the women’s 64-kg at the Weightlifting Marquee Venue in Manama, Bahrain.

Ando, 26, will compete at 8 p.m. on Tuesday (1 a.m. on Wednesday in Manila) in the nine-woman event.

So far, the Philippines has already plucked two bronze medals courtesy of Fernando Agad Jr. in the men’s 55-kh event and Rosegie Ramos of the women’s 49-kg event.

Unfortunately, Dave Pacaldo wasn’t able to secure a podium finish in the men’s 67-kg category after not being able to complete a lift in the snatch.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE that Ando went back to women’s 64-kg since the 59-kg category was not in the World Championships.

“That was her favorite weight and there’s no 59-kg in the World Championships,” Puentevella said.

“She’s raring to go. With God’s grace, she’ll be okay but all of these lifters have to work harder and pray more too.”

The last time Ando competed in the 64-kg category was in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China where she bagged a bronze medal after a total lift of 222kgs.

With North Korea already clinching four gold medals in the competition, Rim Um Sim and Ri Suk will be expected to be a challenge for Ando in the competition.

European U23 champion Svitlana Moskvina of Ukraine is also set to be a hurdle for Ando.

Notable absentees in this competition are Paris Olympics gold medalist Luo Shifang of China, Paris Summer Games silver medalist Maude Charron of Canada, and Paris Games bronze medalist Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei.