Ando, Ceniza gun for Olympic slots in IWF World Cup in Thailand

John Febuar Ceniza (left) and Elreen Ann Ando (right). | Facebook photos

CEBU CITY, Philippines — It’s now or never for two of Cebu’s top weightlifting bets in Elreen Ando and John Febuar Ceniza as they compete in the last remaining Olympic qualifiers, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup that unfolds on Sunday, March 31 in Phuket, Thailand. 

Ando and Ceniza are two of the five Filipino weightlifters sent by the Samahang Weightlifters ng Pilipinas (SWP) to qualify for the Paris Olympics in July. 

She will be competing in the women’s 59-kilogram A alongside Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo on April 3. 

READ: Ando, Ceniza to compete in weightlifting competition in Qatar

Olympic qualifiers

Meanwhile, Ceniza, the lone male Filipino weightlifter from the SWP, will vie in the men’s 61kgs A on April 2. 

Ando and Diaz will have stiff competition as they take on some of the world’s best contenders in their division including Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Maude Carron of Canada who moved down from 64kgs to 59kgs. 

The rest of the contenders in the 59kgs women’s A are Valdivia Gomez (Mexico), Genesis Lourdes Rodriguez (Venezuela), Luo Shifang (China), Anyelin Maria Valera (Venezuela), Lucrezia Magistris (Italy), Yenny Caicedo (Colombia), Xinyi Pei (China), Kamila Konotop (Ukraine), Taylor Nicole Wilkins (USA), Gyong Kim II (North Korea), and record holder Hsing-Chun Kuo (Taiwan).

READ: Cebuano weightlifter Ceniza vows to give all to qualify for Olympics

61kg competitors

Meanwhile, Ceniza will go up against Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Li Fabin of China who is also the record holder in his division. Also competing are Olympic silver medalist Eko Yuli Irawan and fifth placer Al Saleem Seraj of Saudi Arabia. 

The rest of the men’s 61kg competitors are Ricko Saputra (Indonesia), Shota Mishveldize (Georgia), Hampton Morris (USA), Lijun Chen (China), Myong Jin Pak (North Korea), Aznil Muhamad (Malaysia), Bin Kasdan Mohamad (Malaysia), Seyitjan Mirzayev (Turkmenistan), and Teerapong Silachai (Thailand). 

READ: Cebu’s John Febuar Ceniza makes history; wins 2 gold medals in SWP National Championships

Boholana Vanessa Sarno will take centerstage on April 7 for the women’s 71kgs B, while Rosegie Ramos will compete on Monday, April 1, in the women’s 49kgs B. 

Whoever qualifies among the five Filipino bets will join the rest of the six bets that already qualified in EJ Obiena (pole vault), Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), Aleah Finnegan (gymnastics), Eumir Marcial (boxing), Nesthy Petecio (boxing), and Aira Villegas (boxing).