John Tabique made his World Weightlifting Championships debut count, breaking his own personal best in the snatch in the men’s minus-96 kg class at the Uzbekistan Sports Complex, Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, the 19-year-old upstart discarded his previous best of 135 kg at the snatch, which he set in the Asian Championships last April. He now reached a new mark of 137 kg.
Tabique attempted to add three kilos into the score and the record, but he nonetheless had to settle with 137 for the snatch.
The Cebuano lifter then registered 167 kg on his first attempt at the clean and jerk — just three kilos off his Asian Championships mark at 170.
Tabique tried for a new best in the clean and jerk as well two kilos after. Unfortunately, though, he could not take it up on his last two attempts of the night. He ultimately settled for a total of 304 and in 28th place among 40 competitors.
Lesman Paredes took the gold for Colombia with 400 kg, while Qatar’s Olympic champion Fares El-Bakh captured the silver with 394. Rounding up the overall podium is Keydomar Vallenilla with 391.
Tabique’s result closed out a medal-less campaign for Team Philippines in this edition of the Worlds. Fellow debutant Vanessa Sarno came closest in the women’s minus-71 kg last Monday.
