By MARK REY MONTEJO
Filipino weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza virtually clinched his Paris Olympic berth after finishing fourth in the IWF World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on Tuesday, April 2.
The 26-year-old Ceniza lifted 132kgs in snatch and 168kgs in clean and jerk for a total of 300 kgs in the men’s 61kg Group A, tying his personal best in last year’s edition of Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) National Weightlifting Championships.
Ceniza, a Cebu City native and SEAG multi-medalist, put himself in a better position inside the Top 10 of the world rankings who will all earn spots in the quadrennial meet.
China’s Fabin Li bested his foes and made it to the top with 312kgs followed by USA’s Hampton Miller Morris (303), Korea Republic’s Myong-Jin Pak (301), and Thailand’s Teerapong Silachai (299).
Meanwhile, according to the latest IWF update, Rosegie Ramos is yet to secure her Paris spot as she is currently outside the Top 10 lifters of her division.
“Rosegie Ramos from the Philippines is one place outside the top 10 but may yet make it to Paris if Nina Sterckx from Belgium, ranked at two weights, performs well at 59kg here on Wednesday, April 3,” the IWF wrote in the statement.
The Philippines is still eyeing to add more lifters in the Olympic list as Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, Elreen Ando, Vanessa Sarno, and Kristel Macrohon are still to compete in their respective events.
