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Elreen Ando

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172121632593620240507-smahan-weightlifters-ph-MD--5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine representative for weightlifting to the 2024 Paris Olympics Elreen Ando during a PSA Forum in Manila on May 7, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philippine representative for weightlifting to the 2024 Paris Olympics Elreen Ando during a PSA Forum in Manila on May 7, 2024. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Elreen Ando is one of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games-bound athletes that the Philippines is banking on to bring home a medal.</p><p>The 25-year-old Ando, who won gold in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, is taking the place of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz -- whom she overcame in the qualifiers to clinch a spot in the 59kg category of women&#x27;s weightlifting.</p><p>Qualifying for this year&#x27;s Summer Games was a bittersweet moment for the Cebuana.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/4/3/elreen-ando-secures-olympic-spot-hidilyn-diaz-misses-out-2311">READ: Elreen Ando secures Olympic spot; Hidilyn Diaz misses out</a></div><p>Ando had beaten Diaz to a spot in Paris during the IWF World Cup in April. Diaz, who competed in the 55kg division has been scrapped, forcing the veteran weightlifter to move up a division.</p><p>Ando placed seventh overall in the World Cup with a total lift of 228kg, while Diaz was 11th after tallying a total of 222kg. With the Olympics only allowing one athlete per country to qualify in each weight division, the result meant that it was Aldo&#x27;s time to represent flag and country.</p><p>&quot;Sa part ko lang po, proud na proud ako sa sarili ko kasi nakayanan ko eh,&quot; the 2019 and 2021 SEA Games silver medalist told ABS-CBN News&#x27; Dyan Castillejo in a previous interview. </p><p>&quot;Kinausap ko rin yung coach ko na &#x27;Gusto ko po talagang mag qualify.&#x27; Sinabi naman ng coach ko na kung gusto ko talaga, kailangan kong mag sacrifice,&quot; she added.</p><p>However, it is not only advancing at the expense of her idol Hidilyn, whom Elreen competed alongside in the Tokyo Olympics, that she needed to overcome and sacrifice to book a flight to Paris. </p><p>&quot;Never akong umuwi nung nagte-training ako,&quot; she revealed. &quot;Ang dami kong sinacrifice na pinagdaanan. [Na-miss ko] death anniversary ng mama ko at death anniversary ng papa ko. Lahat sinacrifice ko para dito. Months po akong hindi umuwi sa Cebu.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Sinabi ko lang sa sarili ko na kaya ko &#x27;to,&quot; added Ando, who moved down a weight class herself after previously competing in the 64kg division in Tokyo.</p><p>But now that she is the country&#x27;s bet, Ando is ready to step up to the challenge and make a name for herself.</p><p>&quot;Gusto ko [sa Paris] any color of medal kasi kayang kaya naman,&quot; she emphasized. </p><p>Ando, as well as Vanessa Sarno and John Ceniza, are currently in Metz, France for the combined training camp of the Philippines there.</p><p>They will open their campaign on August 7.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1F1AvKA6srU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span> </div>

<p>Elreen Ando is one of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games-bound athletes that the Philippines is banking on to bring home a medal.</p>

Elreen Ando is one of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games-bound athletes that the Philippines is banking on to bring home a medal.

Paris 2024: Elreen Ando hoping to reap fruits of sacrifice in 2nd Olympics stint

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Paris 2024: Elreen Ando hoping to reap fruits of sacrifice in 2nd Olympics stint

Romwel Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 19, 2024 08:00 PM PHT

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Updated July 23, 2024 09:15 PM PHT

Read More:

Weightlifting

Paris 2024

2024 Paris Olympic Games

Elreen Ando

2024 Olympics

Paris Olympics

abssports

Hidilyn Diaz

Olympic Games

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