Colonia, Ando lead winners of Hidilyn Diaz’s weightlifting tourney

MANILA, Philippines – Olympian Nestor Colonia of Philippine Air Force and Elreen Anne Ando of Alino Integrated Services took home the Best Lifter plums to lead the winners of the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Open Championships recently at Meralco Fitness Center.

Colonia, a teammate of Diaz in the Rio Games, stamped his class in the men’s 62-kg play with a 253-kg effort built around 113kgs in snatch and 140kgs in clean and jerk while Ando ruled the women’s 63kg with 186 kg total (85-101).

Around 130 lifters took part in the tournament named after the 2016 Olympics silver medalist Diaz, who thanked the MVP Sports Foundation, Philippine Weightlifting Association, UP Weightlifting Club and CrossFit Ortigas for making the two-day event possible.

Diaz’ cousin, Mary Flor of Mampang dominated the women’s 48kg class after lifting 148 kgs while her brother Eduardo, Jr. grabbed a silver in men’s 69kg with a 218kg total behind winner Joshua Dinglasa of Pasolobong (255kgs).

Dinglasa’s Pasolobong teammates Margaret Colonia and Kristel Macrohon also struck gold in their respective events. Colonia won the women’s 69kg event with 170kgs while Macrohon reigned in the 75kg competition with 195kgs.

Two bets from Pep Project, Odelon Simpao (men’s 77kg) and Marie Michelle del Rosario (women’s 90kg), captured the mints with 245kgs and 140kgs, respectively.

Also victorious were Richard Pep Agosto of PAF (men’s +105kg class) with a winning 295kgs, Joseph Neri of CF Katipunan (men’s 105kg) with 201kgs, Nestor Redulla of Alpha Strength (men’s 94kg) with 262kgs, Joe Patrick Diaz of Hungduan (men’s 85kg) with 238kgs, John Fabiar Ceniza of Cebu (men’s 56kg) with 231 kgs, Eilen Rose Perez of Samjon (women’s 53kg) with 163kgs, and Ma Dessa delos Santos of Guiwan (women’s 58 kg) with 165kgs.

Hidilyn Diaz showed her fine form and hoisted 90 kgs in snatch and 115kgs in jerk.