THREE Filipino athletes fell short of a podium finish but gained loads of experience in the International Weightlifting Federation World Championships on Wednesday at the Uzbekistan Sports Complex in Tashkent.
Mary Flor Diaz couldn’t flash the form that earned her three silver medals at the Asian version of the competition last April and crashed out of the medals’ race along with Fernando Agad and Ellen Rose Perez.
Diaz, 22, finished last among the 10 weightlifters in the women’s 45 kgs class dominated by Thanyathon Sukcharoen of Thailand, while Perez was eighth among 11th contestants in the women’s 49 kgs.
Agad, 19, also ended up eighth in a 10-man field in the men’s 55 kgs category.
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella said the results were expected from the young and experiencing-wanting team.
“They went there for the experience just like Hidilyn [Diaz]. Hidilyn also suffered in the beginning and most of them are first timers in the international event,” Puentevella told BusinessMirror. “This is how you promote and develop champions.”
Competing later in the championships are Tokyo Olympian Erleen Anne Ando, Vanessa Sarno, and 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Kristel Macrohon.
John Febuar Ceniza competed in the men’s 61 kgs division, while Dave Lloyd Pacaldo vied in the men’s 67 kgs on Friday.
Margaret Colonia will compete on Sunday in women’s 64 kgs, while John Dexter Tabique will take his turn on Monday in the men’s 96 kgs.