Colonia snares Asian weightlifting bronze medal

NESTOR Colonia snared a bronze medal in the 2016 Asian Weightlifting Championship yesterday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The 22-year-old from Zamboanga City lifted 148 kilograms in the clean and jerk to end up third but wound up fourth overall in the total of the men’s 56 kg category.

Aspiring for an Olympic berth, Colonia missed the podium in the snatch following a 120 kg lift for a 268 total that paled in comparison to his performance in the world championships in Houston, Texas, last year. Colonia posted a 282-kg total then after combined scores of 154 kg in the clean and jerk and 124 kg in the snatch.

Meng Cheng of China captured the gold in the total with 285 followed by Thailand’s Sinphet Kruaithong (284) and Li Fabin of China (273).

Colonia was able to beat Li’s 148 lift in the clean and jerk for the bronze.

Two-time Olympian Hidilyn Diaz will compete today in the women’s 53 kg category. Diaz, also eyeing an Olympic spot in Rio de Janeiro, has to do better than her 213 total in the world championships last November.  June Navarro