North Korea and China remain the countries to beat.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz reached a new milestone in her career, as she lifted 100 kg during the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Grand Prix II in Doha, Qatar. However, she was unable to finish the competition.
Diaz, a gold medalist in the 55 kg division during the Tokyo Olympics, has moved up to the 59 kg as she makes a bid to qualify in the shortened Paris 2024 weightlifting field.
In Qatar, the Filipina weightlifter managed to complete what she could not do during the 19th Asian Games. After successfully clearing 94 and 97 kilograms, Diaz achieved a personal milestone and lifted 100 kilograms in snatch.
However, she withdrew from the clean and jerk part as a precaution after a "minor injury worry," reported by the IWF, which added that Diaz expects to be "moving up the rankings again at the next opportunity."
Elreen Ando, the Asian Games bronze medalist in the 64 kg division, also competed with Diaz in the 59 kg division of the IWF Grand Prix.
She lifted 95 kg in snatch and 120 kg in clean and jerk for a total of 215 kg. She finished in 11th place.
The top place though was a continuation of the battle between Asian Games gold medalist Kim Il-Gyong of North Korea and silver medalist Luo Shifang of China.
Kim was unable to lift 109 kg in her last snatch attempt, giving Luo sa victory with the 108 kg lift in that event.
The Chinese weightlifter immediately put pressure on the North Korean with her first clean and jerk at 130 kg, and Kim was unable to catch up.
Luo picked up the gold medal with a 108-139-247 tally for the snatch, clean and jerk, and the total. The 247 kg total equals the world record set by Kuo Hsing-Chun from Chinese Taipei, who did not compete in Doha.
One more event remains for athletes to rack up the points, the 2024 Continental Championships.
Diaz is currently ninth in the rankings, while Ando is tied for 11th. Only ten will get the ticket to the Paris Olympics.
Earlier in the IWF Grand Prix, Rose Jean Ramos won three silver medals in the 45 kg division, lifting 70 kg in snatch, and 85 kg in clean and jerk, for a total of 155 kg.
North Korea's Won Hyon Sim got the gold with lifts of 82-99-181 in the two-woman field.
Meanwhile, Rosegie Ramos missed the podium in the 49 kg category with lifts of 88-103-191. She is currently 11th in the IWF rankings.
Vanessa Sarno still has a chance to qualify for a Paris 2024 spot as she sits 10th in the rankings. She will compete in the 71 kg division in Doha on December 10.
In the men's division, John Ceniza picked up the silver with a total of 298 kg from a 133 kg snatch and 165 clean and jerk. He sits seventh in the rankings.
North Korea's Pak Myong Jin won the gold with a tally of 134-171-305.
(CF)