John Dexter Tabique made a strong impression after finishing in sixth at the men’s 96 kg division in the 2020 Asian Weightlifting Championships, to end the capaign of Team Pilipinas, Friday evening (Manila time) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The 19-year-old Cebuano lifter shone away from the spotlight after topping Group B of the said weight class. He was trailing Singapore’s John Cheah with a solitary kilogram after the snatch but made his way to the top after the clean and jerk.
Tabique lifted 135 kg on his second try in the snatch but failed to get in front with additional three kilograms. The Filipino and Palestine’s Mohammed Hamada were tied after this portion.
After breaking the tie with a successful 161 kg lift to start at the clean and jerk, the young Filipino stunned everyone with a huge 170 kg attempt. Despite some difficulties on getting the bar overhead, he finally got to hold on for a good lift and the 305 kg total.
Tabique tried to go over his current limit with a 175 kg clean and jerk, but he did even lifted it all the way up. Nonetheless, he went way beyond his entry weight of 290 kg.
Chinese weightlifting star Tian Tao bagged all the golds at stake after hauling a total of 386 kg. The reigning world champion cleared 175 kg on the snatch and 211 kg on clean and jerk to underline his dominance.
Iran’s Sohrab Moradi bounced back big time in the clean and jerk with a 210 kg to take the silver with a total of 384 kg. He pocketed the silver in the process in the said portion after his bronze in the snatch at 174 kg.
Jang Yeong-hak of South Korea rounded up the podium with a total of 379 kg off 174 kg in the snatch and 205 kg in the clean and jerk.
After seven days in the competition, Team Pilipinas pocketed two golds, six silvers, and three bronzes. The country currently sits in fourth overall with a 1-2-1 medal tally for the overall medals just below China, Chinese Taipei, and Kazakhstan.
