Ando, Perez lift champs

National team members Elreen Ann Ando and Ellen Rose Perez bolstered their preparation for the 18th Asian Games as they ruled the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Open Championship late Sunday at the Meralco Fitness Center in Pasig City.

Ando lifted a total of 200 kilograms to edge Supawon Hui of Hongkong and local bet Sonia Pascual, who lifted 137 kilograms and 123 kilograms in the women’s 63-kilogram class.

Also emerging victorious was Perez as she registered a total lift of 155 kilograms to rule the women’s 53-kilogram category.

The 18-year old Perez dominated Sheryl Wei Foo of Singapore and Maria Justin Talamayan of local club PEP, who tallied a total of lift of 146 and 115 for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

This strong performance by Ando and Perez was a fitting followup to their multiple-medal conquest in the 25th Asian Junior Women Weightlifting Championship last May in Uzbekistan.

Ando bagged a bronze and two silver medals while Perez clinched a bronze in the Asian juniors championship.

Ando and Perez are part of the seven-man Philippine delegation to the Asian Games together with Kristel Macrohon, Dessa de los Santos, Jeffrey Garcia, Nestor Colonia and Diaz.

Meanwhile, Margaret Colonia also defended her crown in the 79-kilogram category while Jacinta Sumagaysay of Guam (58-kilogram), Mary Flor Diaz (48-kilogram) and Foo (75-kilogram) won their respective categories in the women’s battle.

Emerging victorious in the men’s side are John Ceniza of Cebu (56-kilogram), Bengie Payay (62-kilogram), Raymond Santos of Guam (69-kilogram), Joseph Mangulabnan of Davao (77-kilogram), Jon Kevin Padullo of University of the East (94-kilogramg) and Lewis Chua of Singapore (105-kilogram).