By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
John Febuar Ceniza found his North Korean rival too strong and settled for runner-up finish in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Grand Prix II on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in Doha, Qatar.
Despite failing to land a podium in snatch and clean & jerk, the 25-year-old Cebuano was able to tally 298 kilograms – good enough to finish second overall behind Pak Myong Jin in the men’s 61kg division.
The two-time Southeast Asian Games silver winner could only finish fourth in snatch (133 kilos) and fifth in clean & jerk (165 kilos).
Ceniza registered both weights on his second attempts. He did try to lift 135 kilos on his final try in snatch but failed. He was also unsuccessful in lifting 168 kilos in his last attempt in the clean & jerk.
Pak captured the gold medal with a total lift of 305 kilos, while Malaysia’s Mohamad Aniq Bin Kasdan claimed the bronze with 296.
Pak banked on his gold-medal feat in clean & jerk where he successfully raised 171 kilos – enough to make up for his third-place finish in snatch (134).
China’s Li Fabin and Indonesia’s Eko Yuli Irawan bagged the gold and silver in snatch with 137 and 136 kilos, respectively, while Mohamad won the silver in clean & jerk via countback over American Hampton Miller Morris after both lifters registered identical 170 kilos.
Overall, the country now has four silver medals, accounting for Rosegie Ramos’ three silver feats in the women’s 45kg division.
Ramos was also beaten by a North Korean rival.
