The Philippines’ Elreen Ando during the Asian Weightlifting Championships in China.–Photo from Asian Weightlifting Federation

Elreen Ando faced a familiar foe—and certainly not an ordinary one—to emerge the national weightlifting champion of her division.

But Ando said beating Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo is not the end goal.

“My goal is to just keep on improving. It was a good outcome for me,’’ said Ando in Filipino after defeating the Tokyo Olympics champion in their face-off at the recent 2025 National Weightlifting Championships in Dumaguete City.

The two-time Olympian Ando began asserting herself in the snatch by lifting 95 kilograms (kg) before sealing the win in the clean and jerk of the women’s 59kg division with a 125kg effort.

Ando’s total of 220kgs dominated Diaz-Naranjo’s 202, built on lifts of 87 in the snatch and 115 in the clean and jerk.

“I won but I’m aware that I should continue building my strength for tougher international competitions ahead,” said the 26-year-old Ando, a three-time silver medalist in the Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Ando, who likewise bagged a bronze medal in the previous Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China, in 2023, earned a trip to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok later this year, a prize guaranteed by weightlifting chief Monico Puentevella.

Ando also defeated Diaz-Naranjo in the race to the 2024 Paris Olympics.