Count Filipino lifter Nestor Colonia in the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
By just showing up in the coming Asian championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, national weightlifting coach Dondon Aldanete said the 22-year-old pride of Zamboanga City would already be eligible for the Olympics.
“He’s already ranked fourth in the world. Part of the requirement for him to officially qualify is to join the team event,” said Aldanete, pointing out that Colonia would only need the points in the team competition of the continental championship to join fellow lifter
Hidilyn Diaz in Rio.
Colonia bagged a bronze medal in the clean and jerk (158kg) in the recent world championship held in Houston, Texas but wound up fourth in the snatch (124) and total (282) in the 56kg men’s category.
Diaz, who scooped three bronze medals in the women’s 53kg of the world championships, has already cemented her third straight Olympics.
The Asian Weightlifting Championship is set April 21-30 where 10 Filipino lifters (six men, four women) will participate in the team event headlined by Diaz and Colonia.
Team delegation head Romy Magat said he would secure the certification from the International Weightlifting Federation that would officially declare Diaz as a qualifier to the Olympics.
Joining Diaz and Colonia in the Asian championships are Ellen Rose Perez, Kristel Mae Macrohon, Maria Dessa Delos Santos, Roel Garcia, Elbert Atilano Jr., Karl Louise Macrohon and Joshua Dinglasan.
Aldanete said Colonia would need to lift a total of 280-300 kg to seize a medal in Rio while Diaz should carry 230kg to earn a podium finish.
Diaz has a personal best of 214 in the total—96 in the snatch and 118 in the clean and jerk.
“The chances are brighter for Nestor to medal based on his previous performances,” said Magat.
Once Colonia qualifies, it will be the first time for the Philippines to have a pair of lifters in the Games since Gregorio Colonia, Samuel
Aligada and Ramon Solis made it in 1988 Seoul.