Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (Weightlifting Association of the Philippines) Head Coach Tony Agustin is highly confident that Filipina weightlifter Kristel Macrohon will snatch an Olympic slot at the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which started today (April 16).
When it comes to determination, there is not much of a difference between the 24-year-old Macrohon and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
Agustin saw this in Macrohon’s training in Zamboanga, where she set up her own training facility.
“Sarili niya talaga. Sinemento niya ‘yong tabi ng bahay nila, tapos (nagkabit) ng tatlong yero, (nagpatulong) sa tatay niya sa paggawa ng bubong, tapos ‘yon. Iyon ‘yong gym niya,” Head Coach Agustin recounted.
[She did it on her own. She had the side of their house cemented, hung up three galvanized sheets, and with the help of her father, constructed a roof. That is her gym.]
“Tapos ‘yong squat rack niya, kung makikita nyo, pinutol lang ‘yon na puno ng kahoy, itinayo lang na dalawa. Hayun ‘yong ginagawa niyang squat rack na pang-squatting, at saka ‘yong ginagawang power sa taas ng track. Ganoon siya ka-focused. Kahit ‘yong ano natin sa pandemic, pursigido talaga s’ya mag-training.”
[For her squat rack, you can see that it is just two pieces of timber positioned upright. That is what she did for her squat rack for squatting, which she also uses for power on the top track. That is how focused she is. The pandemic may have brought difficulties, but she is really determined to train.]
Aside from this, Agustin also based his opinion on the golden 2019 Southeast Asian Games performance of Macrohon, where she inked an extraordinary 93 kilograms lift in Snatch and a 123 kilogram record in the Clean and Jerk 71 kilogram event.
“Ito ‘yong highest competition sa (Southeast Asian) region, at saka kaming mga coaches ng national team din, ito ‘yong tinitingnan namin — dapat as a national athlete, medalist ka ng SEA Games,” Agustin explained.
[This is the highest competition in the (Southeast Asian) region and as coaches of the national team, this is what we are looking for in a national athlete. You should be a medalist in the SEA Games.]
Macrohon has exceeded these SEA Games records while training after lifting 95 kilograms in Snatch and 122 kilograms in Clean and Jerk. That is why Agustin is convinced that the Zamboangueña weightlifter can still go a notch higher in the Asian tilt.
“Naka-set na rin kami ng target. ‘Yong target ko nga sa kanya is 97 (kilograms sa Snatch), 125 (kilograms sa Clean and Jerk), parang ganoon. Pero sa tingin ko, kaya niya ‘yon,” Agustin affirmed.
[We have already set a target. My target for her is 97 (kilograms in Snatch), 125 (kilograms in Clean and Jerk) or something like that. But the way I see it, she can do it].
To seal an Olympic slot, Macrohon should give her best shot at the Asian Weightlifting Championships on April 23. From her current 22nd spot, she should make it to the top 8 in the 71 kilogram category to get into the Olympics. -Report by Khay Asuncion/ JBB-jlo
