Hidilyn, Elreen go face to face

MANILA, Philippines — After a three-silver medal haul by Rose Jean Ramos last Friday, it’s now up to Tokyo Olympics gold winner Hidilyn Diaz and fellow Olympian Elreen Ando to carry the load for the Philippines in the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jinju, South Korea.

But they would have to do it against each other as Diaz and Ando compete at the same weight class – the 59kg division – at 5 p.m. (Philippine time) today.

“Elreen Ando vs. HD (Hidilyn Diaz) tomorrow (today),” Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella, who’s with the national delegation in the South Gyeongsang province, yesterday told The STAR.

With her original division – 55kg – scrapped from next year’s Paris Olympics calendar, Diaz was given a choice to go down to 49kg or move up to 59kg where Ando, who qualified to the Tokyo Games in that category, is in.

The world champion demigod from Zamboanga City eventually decided to go up and challenge Ando, who hails from Cebu, for that one spot allowed per country to the quadrennial meet.

“It’s a showdown and anybody’s game,” said Puentevella.

Another lifter to watch is Vanessa Sarno, a 19-year-old spectacle from Tagbilaran, Bohol who will compete in the 71kg section on Tuesday.

Ando and Sarno will fly straight to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Friday to shoot for gold medals in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

Diaz opted to skip the biennial meet to focus on earning important Olympic points from Jinju.