Rowers, lifters start agonizing wait

Rower Cris Nievarez and two weightlifting bets will start their agonizing wait for final lists from their sport’s respective governing bodies which will say if they did enough to make the Tokyo Olympics.

Nievarez wound up ninth in the overall rankings of the men’s single sculls during the recent Asia Oceania Continental Qualification Regatta, and his chances of making the main draw of the rowing competitions does not rest in his hands anymore.

The 21-year-old could still make it once the list of qualifiers is released two weeks from now as he can move to fourth overall once the rowers from fourth-ranked India, No. 5 Uzbekistan and seeded sixth Vietnam have been booked in other events where they earned better clockings.

Kristel Macrohon and Elreen Ando performed brilliantly in the Asian Championships in Uzbekistan a couple of weeks back, but they are also awaiting the final rankings from the International Weightlifting Federation if they made it to the top right of their divisions.

‘No regrets’

Five slots are available in Nievarez’ event, and also being seen to help his cause of Nievarez are No. 7 Indonesia and eighth-ranked Hong Kong, whose rowers performed stronger in the lightweight women’s double sculls and women’s single sculls, respectively.

“I have no regrets if ever I don’t make it. I gave my best during the races after preparing for more than four months,’’ Nievarez told the Inquirer.

The World Rowing Federation, which hosted the Olympic qualifier during the weekend at Sea Forest Waterway in Tokyo, Japan, will release the final list of qualified rowers.

Macrohon, the Southeast Asian Games champion in 71-kilograms, won two bronze medals in the recent Asian Championships, while Ando, the young find from Cebu City, went home with two silvers and a bronze in the 64kg class.