PH’s lone lifter Colonia falls way short of SEA Games podium finish

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Nestor Colonia, the Philippines’ lone weighlifter in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games, fell way short of the podium and wound up second to last in men’s 56kg weightlifting on Monday, August 27 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre here. 

The 25-year-old Rio Olympian, who said he was only at 85% a day before his competition due to a knee injury, lifted a total of 253kg – 113kg in the snatch and 140kg in the clean and jerk – finishing just above Myanmar. 

Colonia, who had Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz assisting and prompting him all throughout, had a total of 3 unsuccessful lifts – one in the snatch and two in the clean and jerk. He was unable to lift two 146kg attempts in the clean and jerk. 

Vietnam, which had a Rio Olympian weighlifter battling against Colonia last year, was represented at the SEA Games by Thach Kim Tuan, who won gold with a total of 269kg. 

Indonesia’s Surahmat Wijoyo copped the silver with a 267kg-lift, while Witoon Mingmoon of Thailand, which also had a Rio Olympics lifter, got the bronze at 259kg. 

Colonia, a bronze medalist in the 2015 World Championships and a gold medalist in the 2015 Asian Championships, came in with little expectations knowing he was injured. 

The Philippines lost a potential gold medal victory from Diaz with women’s weightlifting scrapped from these games. – Rappler.com