First World Medal for Panama in Weightlifting

(ATR) The first day of the IWF World Junior Championships in Tashkent proved historic for Panama.

The Central American nation won a world medal for the first time thanks to the performance of its weightlifter Juan Miguel Martínez, 19 years old, in the 55 kg category.

The reactions in Panama to Martinez winning the bronze medal were immediate, with the feat receiving prominent space amid the torrent of football and baseball news in the media and social networks of the country.

Speaking to Around the Rings, the new president of the Panamanian Olympic Committee, former national basketball team member and jurist Damaris Young, described Martinez's performance for national weightlifting as "historic".

"But his demonstration also highlights the great work of Professor José Manuel Ochoa with young talents," said Young, considered the first woman to head a National Olympic Committee in Central America.

It was the first world medal for Panama in 82 years since the National Weightlifting Federation was founded.

It was a good day for Latin America as the Ecuadorian Benjamin Zurita, 18 years old, won the other two bronze medals in this same category.

In this weight of 55 kg the favorite Ablay Auyelkhanov (Kazakhstan) won the three gold medals with a difference of 15 kg over the local Ogabek Nafasov (Uzbekistan) who won silver in all three modalities and lifted 233 kg.

The Latin Americans shared the bronze. The snatch was won by Martínez (102 kg) and the clean and jerk (127 kg) and total (228 kg) by Zurita after the last failed attempt (131 kg) by the Italian Federico La Barbera.

For Zurita it was the confirmation of his Pan American and South American titles in 2019 and 2020, the latter a year in which the virtual competitions promoted by the Pan American Federation fostered the motivation of weightlifters during the coronavirus pandemic. Zurita and Martinez shared the podium on the numerous occasions they competed online from their homes.

Martínez, speaking to a Hispanic Internet channel from Tashkent, said that during the pandemic, which has hit Panama hard, he was able to continue training "in the most complicated way" thanks to a cousin who built a small store.

His coach also moved to where he was "to pass on his knowledge." Because of this, the young weightlifter dedicated his triumph "to his family, his friends and especially to coach José Manuel Ochoa".

Martínez and his cousin Ronnier - who also competes in this Junior World Cup at 61 kg - live in Veraguas province, 189 km (117 miles) from Panama City where Ochoa lives.

On this opening date of the event, Colombian Manuela Berrio appeared in the Uzbek contest in the "extra" category.

Since last year's World Junior Championships was postponed due to the health situation of COVID-19, the IWF gave those who were still junior in 2020 the possibility to compete in 2021 even if they were already senior at this time.

Those in Tashkent who are "extras" cannot win medals but can earn qualifying points for Tokyo.

"I will wait until June for the clarification of the IWF ranking. I've only been in this 49 kg division for six months. If I can't go to the Olympics then I'll think about the Senior World Cup in November," said Berrio.

In women's 49 kg. Windy Aisah Cantika (Indonesia) took the three gold with a six kg advantage over Mihaela-Valentina Cambei (Romania). Elizaveta Zhatkina (Russia) took bronze in clean and jerk and total and Giulia Imperio (Italy) moved up to third place in snatch.

In the 45 kg also for women, Turkey made one. Cansu Bektas led the category with her compatriot Melisa Gunes silver medal in total and bronze in snatch. The podium was completed by the Moldovan Teodora-Luminita Hincu bronze in total, the Russian Lada Latushkina bronze in clean and jerk and the Romanian Cosmina Adriana Pana, silver in clean and jerk.

The Junior World Cup, organized by the Uzbekistan Weightlifting Federation, is being held at the Yunusabad Sports Complex with more than 240 athletes from 53 countries taking part. It is the last universal opportunity to score points toward the pre-Olympic ranking.

Also this week the African Championship in Nairobi, Kenya, will give the last points for a continental circuit.

Written and reported by Miguel Hernandez

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