FILE–Filipino weightlifting John Ceniza is headed to the Paris Olympics. — PSC-POC Media PooL
Count John Febuar Ceniza in as a surefire qualifier to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Cebuano lifter wound up fourth at the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket, Thailand on Tuesday, virtually sealing a spot in the Philippine delegation bound for the glamorous French capital come July.
Ceniza thus fortified his Olympic qualification ranking at sixth overall at the least in the men’s 61kg category following a total lift of 300 kilograms broken down into 132 in the snatch and 168 in the clean and jerk.
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Although there was no official announcement yet, the top ten in his weight class after the Phuket worlds will advance to the Paris Olympics.
Ceniza is the second weightlifter to qualify after 20-year-old Rosegie Ramos made it on Monday night after a solid performance in the women’s 49kg Group B division.
They’ll be joining pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio in Paris.
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China’s Fabin Li captured the gold medal in Ceniza’s division with a total of 312, Hampton Morris of the United States placed second (303kg) and Myong Jin Pak of North Korea was good for third (301kg).
Up next on the platform on Wednesday are Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and fellow Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando in the women’s 59kg while former Asian champion Vanessa Sarno is scheduled to see action on Sunday in the women’s 71kg.
The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas could send a record four lifters to the Olympics if these women likewise make it.