Elreen Ando banners PH team in World Weightlifting Championships

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

2021 Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando will look to bounce back in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships as she banners the 10-member PH team in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from December 7 to 17.

Ando will try to fill in the shoes of 2021 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz after a late announcement that she won’t be able to participate in the prestigious competition due to the short period of training time.

2020 online World Youth Championships and 2021 Asian Championships gold medalist Vanessa Sarno will join Ando in the women’s division and will aim for a spectacular finish in the seniors’ category in the 71-kg event.

Aside from Ando and Sarno, PH team standouts Kristel Macrohon, Mary Flor Diaz, Elien Rose Perez, and Margaret Colonia will also compete in their respective categories.

Meanwhile, in the men’s division, star John Febuar Ceniza will spearhead the team after stints in the 2020 Roma World Cup bronze and 2019 SEA Games where he won the silver medal in the 61-kg event.

Completing the cast on the men’s side are Fernando Agad in the 55-kg event, Dave Lloyd Pacaldo in the 67-kg event, and John Dexter Tabique in the 96-kg event.