John Ceniza looming as Paris podium potential

John Febuar Ceniza works out at the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. —FILE PHOTO

Don’t let his recent fifth-place finish fool you: John Febuar Ceniza is not only cementing his spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics, he is inching toward a possible podium finish, too.

The 25-year-old Cebuano, who competed in the men’s 61 kilograms (kg) category in the ongoing International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is closing in on the numbers of his top competitors.

Ceniza placed eighth in the snatch following a 131-kg lift and stormed back in the clean and jerk by winding up fifth with a 165, just two kilos clear of gold medalist Li Fabin of China in the same event.

Ceniza’s 296 total left him behind Li (308), silver medalist Sergio Massidda of Italy (302), bronze winner Ding Hongjie of China (301) and Georgia’s Shota Mishvelidze (297).

Since only one lifter in each weight class can represent his country in the Olympics, it will be a tossup between Li and Ding on who will punch that ticket to the French capital.

“I have to work more and train harder, especially in the snatch,’’ said Ceniza, who already completed three of the five required meets needed to clinch an Olympic berth while staying within the top 10 in all of them.

The rising Filipino lifting star was 10 kilos short of Li (141) in the snatch, six away from Massidda and five from Mishvelidze while tying Massidda in the clean and jerk and beating Mishvelidze, who carried 161 on his last attempt. Ceniza’s personal best in the clean and jerk is 169.

A total of 44 lifters from 36 countries participated in their weight class, giving a clear hint of what to expect from Ceniza moving forward.

“He might just even grab a medal in Paris with more training. This guy is determined. Good for Cebu,’’ said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.

Ceniza, the 2020 World Cup bronze medalist, is well within range of an Olympic appearance after finishing fifth in the 2023 Asian championships in Jinji, South Korea, and 10th in the 2022 World Championships in Bogota, Colombia.