SWP: Ando’s right on track

The record-breaking showing of Elreen Ando in the ongoing IWF World Championships in Manama, Bahrain has left the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) leadership giddy with excitement.

SWP president Monico Puentevella, noting Ando’s two national records in the women’s 64-kilogram event, feels she will peak in time for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Puentevella, a former sports commissioner, believes the Cebuano bet will mirror Hidilyn Diaz’s third year of competing in the Summer Games where she clinched a silver medal in the women’s 53-kg event in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Ando tallied a clean-and-jerk of 129 kgs, erasing her previous record of 126 kgs she lifted in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last year.

Her total lift of 229 kgs also set a new national record as she bested her own record of 223 kgs in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA) in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“She’s on the right track. Three more years to fully mature. Like Hidilyn, she’ll be at her third Olympics. She has the heart for a medal in LA,” he added.

Ando will be competing in various tournaments as well on her way to the LA Games.

First, she will be defending her gold medal in the women’s 59-kg event in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand next year.

In 2026, competitions such as the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan and the IWF World Champions will be Ando’s proving grounds as this year will start the Olympic qualification period.

Ando has yet to finish on the podium after finishing in seventh place in the women’s 64-kg in the Tokyo Games and sixth place in the women’s 59-kg event in the Paris Games.

Meanwhile, John Tabique was a dud in the 89-kg class after failing to finish.

This leaves Kristel Macrohon as the remaining Filipino bet as she is competing in the women’s 71-kg event at press time.

So far, the Philippines clinched three bronze medals in the competition courtesy of Fernando Agad Jr. (bronze in the 55-kg) and Rosegie Ramos (bronze in the snatch and bronze in the total lift) in the 49-kg.