Cebuano weightlifter Ceniza reflects on Asiad ‘mistakes’: I’ll do better next time

John Febuar Ceniza during the Asian Games. | Photo from PSC-POC Asian Games Media Pool

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebuano weightlifting ace John Febuar Ceniza stood back from his Asian Games shortcoming with renewed motivation to do better. 

The 25-year-old Ceniza narrowly missed the bronze medal in the 61-kilogram division of the men’s category on Sunday evening at the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.

READ: John Ceniza narrowly misses podium in Asian Games weightlifting

He finished with a 297kgs total lift (134kgs in snatch, 163kgs in clean and jerk), but finished up fourth behind North Korean Chungguk Kim who had 298kgs total lift. 

China’s Fabin Li bagged the gold medal with an Asian Games record of 310kgs total lift. Li also set a new Asian Games record in snatch with 143kgs, while his clean and jerk was 167kgs. 

The silver medal went to another North Korean Myongjin Pak who finished with 307kgs which was a new Junior World Record and Junior Asian Record. 

READ: Cebu’s Elreen Ando scores bronze in Asian Games

“Naa jud gamay nga discouraging feeling, but you have to learn from it. Imohang tan-awon asa imohang sayop para mas ma improve pa ka,” Ceniza told CDN Digital.

(There is still that discouraging feeling, but you have to learn from it. You have to see where you went wrong so that you can improve yourself further.)

“Overall, nindot ra akong experience sa Asian Games, nindot ang weather diri sa China,” he said.

(Overall, the experience in Asian Games is nice, the weather here in China is good.) 

READ: Noted Cebu weightlifters share tips to becoming successful

Ceniza added that the most important lesson he learned in the Asian Games wasn’t the competition, but in training. 

He stressed out that he had to train harder every day, and instill discipline to win a medal in his next competition and the next Asian Games. 

“Ibuhos jud og maayo imong kusog sa training kada adlaw ug disiplina pud. Akong goal karon kay makaqualify sa Olympics kay kaning Asian Games dili man siya qualifying event,” said Ceniza who is also a varsity high school athlete of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters. 

(We have to give our all in training every day and discipline also. Our goal is to qualify for the Olympics because the Asian Games it is not a qualifying event.)

READ: Cebuano weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza secures silver medal in 32nd SEAG

According to one of his coaches, Ramon Solis, Ceniza would have perfected his clean and jerk attempts if he did not wear a brand new pair of shoes. 

Solis said that Ceniza’s brand new weightlifting shoes had a very tight grip from its traction, which made him lose his balance during the clean and jerk. 

“Ang gigamit niya kay ang bag-o nga sapatos mao to pilit kaayo. Kung ang daan pa to niya nga sapatos gigamit, modangog ra unta to, og ma balance ra unta niya iyang kaugalingon. Pero sige lang, salig ko niya nga makabawi siya sa sunod nga duwa,” Solis added. 

(What he used are new shoes that is why he found it really difficult in the compeitition. If he used old shoes, he would have kept his balance. But that’s okay, I have faith in him that he can recover in the next competition.)