MANILA — Kristel Macrohon proved her worth by ruling the women’s 71kg division, giving the Philippines its second gold medal at the end of the weightlifting competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday.
Inspired by Olympian Hidilyn Diaz’s golden triumph last Monday, the 23-year-old Macrohon had a total lift of 216kg (93kg in the snatch and 123kg in the clean and jerk) to relegate favorite Thi Van Nguyen of Vietnam to the silver. Nguyen had a total lift of 214kg (92kg in the snatch and 122kg in the clean and jerk).
Indonesian Tsabitha Ramadan settled for the bronze medal with a total lift of 203kg.
Nguyen failed in her last attempt at 125kg in the clean and jerk, enabling Macrohon, like Diaz a native of Zamboanga City, to win the gold.
“I’m so overwhelmed. I didn’t expect this because the Vietnamese lifter is really the No. 1 in the division. I thought I could only win a silver. But Hidilyn inspired me to go for the gold,” said Macrohon.
With just one event left (men’s 73kg) in the four-day competition, Vietnam has clinched the overall title in the discipline with four gold medals on top of four silver and one bronze medals, followed by Indonesia (3-1-5) and the Philippines (2-3-2).
Myanmar had a lone silver medal in the 10-event competition while Malaysia, the 2017 host, ended its campaign with a solitary bronze to show, a far cry from its 1-1-1 performance two years ago.
“I’m very happy with the success of the weightlifting competition. We really worked hard for this. I think this is one of the most successful SEA Games as far as weightlifting is concerned,” said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
Amit survives Thai in billiards
Rubilen Amit of the Philippines bucked a slow start to edge Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan of Thailand, 7-5, in the women’s 10-ball singles at the Manila Hotel Tent.
Amit crawled out a 4-0 hole by winning the next three racks and sustained her momentum after a 5-all tie to advance to the semifinals.
The multiple 8-ball and 9-ball SEA Games champion had a hard time with her breaks.
“Breaking in 10-ball is not really my strength,” Amit said. “And I’ve been concentrating on 9-balls lately.”
Billiards legend Efren “Bata” Reyes was competing in the men’s 1-cushion carom quarterfinals against Thongchai Punawee while the men’s snooker tandem of Basil Hasan Al Shajjar and Michael Angelo Mengorio was battling Singapore’s Kingsley Tian Yi Ang and Lim Chun Kiat.
Al Shajjar and Mengorio advanced to the quarterfinals at the expense of Indonesians Dhendy Krhistanto and Putu Edi Wirawan, 3-1, on Tuesday night.
Carlo Biado and Johann Chua, along with the other Philippine pair of Warren Kiamco and Jeffrey Ignacio were gunning for an all-Filipino final in the men’s 9-ball doubles.
Chezka Centeno was also battling Sukritthanes Waratthanun in the 10-ball singles quarterfinals as well as Alvin Barbero and Jefrey Roda in the men’s snooker doubles
Malaysia retains overall title in lawn bowls
Singapore pocketed its first gold medal in lawn bowls at the expense of the Philippines at Friendship Gate, Clark Global City, Pampanga.
Poh Eng Lim, Quee Kee and Shermeen Xin Yi Lim turned back the Filipino trio of Nancy Toyco, Asuncion Bruce and Ainie Knight, 16-13, in the finals of the triples event to add to Singapore’s early bronze win.
Despite the loss, the Philippines took the second spot behind Malaysia with one gold, three silver and two bronzes followed by Singapore in third spot.
Malaysia has successfully defended its overall championship in lawn bowls, as they won a total of four golds and two bronze medals. (PR)
