Southeast Asian Games – Weightlifting – Olympic Taekwondo Hall, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 16, 2023 Philippines’ John Dexter Tabique reacts after making a new record during men’s 89kg REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
MANILA, Philippines—Dexter Tabique set Philippine records on his way to winning the bronze in the men’s 89kg weightlifting class at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday at Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Cebuano lifter, who had difficulty cutting down from 102 to the 89kg division, broke the national mark after a 140 lift in the snatch, and 170 in the clean and jerk for a total of 310.
Tabique eclipsed the previous mark set by John Kevin Padullo in last year’s Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“There was a hint of nervousness. But I did not let the emotions get the best of me,” Tabique said in Filipino.
“Our goal was for him to medal in his first time competing in his new weight class. And we were able to achieve that. He had to make adjustments coming from 102,” said national coach Tony Agustin in Filipino.
Quoc Toan Nguyen of Vietnam claimed the gold medal following a SEA Games record performance of 115-190-345. Muhammad Zul Ilmi of Malaysia was second with a total lift of 328.
Southeast Asian Games – Weightlifting – Olympic Taekwondo Hall, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 16, 2023 Philippines’ Kristel Macrohon reacts during women’s +71kg REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Earlier, Kristel Macrohon failed to make the podium in the women’s +71kg class.
Macrohon, the champion in the division back in 2019, settled for fourth with lifts of 101 and 120, for a total of 221.
Duangkasorn Chaidee of Thailand took the gold after totalling 270, with Nukmul Akmal of Indonesia placing second (263), and Si Ro Pha of Vietnam in third (246).
Vanessa Sarno (women’s -71kg) and Elreen Ando (women’s -59kg) delivered the two golds for the Philippines, which also had four silvers courtesy of Angeline Colonia (women’s 45kg), Lovely Inan (women’s 49kg), John Febuar Ceniza (61kg) and Rosalinda Faustino (women’s 55kg).