Ando falters, finishes 5th

Two-time Olympian Elreen Ando missed the podium after settling for fifth place in the women’s 61-kilogram division of the 20th Asian Games at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center on Friday.

Ando, who clinched bronze in the 2023 Hangzhou Asiad, posted a total of 224 kilograms, highlighted from her snatch of 101kgs and clean and jerk of 123kgs, but fell short of the medal mark in the continental showcase.

The 27-year-old Cebu City native became the third Filipino lifter to bow out of medal contention after Rosegie Ramos finished fourth in the women’s 53kg division and Eleaphraime Limmong suffered a no-lift in the men’s 60kg category.

Yang Liuyue of China claimed the gold with a total of 251kg, highlighted by a 112kg snatch and a sensational 139kg clean and jerk.

Jin Hae Pak of South Korea settled for silver with 248kg, while Kuo Hsing-chun of Chinese Taipei completed the podium with 237kg after lifting 107kg in the snatch and 130kg in the clean and jerk.

With Ando out of the medal picture, the Philippines could end the Asiad without a weightlifting podium finish for the first time since the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea.

The country’s remaining medal hopes now rest on Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Kristel Macrohon and Albert Ian delos Santos.

Delos Santos, one of the Philippines’ flag bearers during the opening ceremony, will compete in the men’s 70kg division on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (Manila time) at the same venue.

Macrohon, meanwhile, will see action in the women’s 69kg category on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.