PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Tokyo Olympian weightlifter Elreen Ando carried Team Philippines’ campaign on her shoulders after winning the women’s 59kg event in record-breaking fashion in the 32^nd Southeast Asian Games at the National Olympic Stadium here.

Philippines' Elreen Ando competes in the women's 59kg weightlifting event during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Phnom Penh on May 14, 2023. (AFP)

The 24-year-old Ando, who moved to a lower weight class from 64kg, erased three Games records where she posted a 216 total – 98 kilos in snatch and 118 in clean & jerk.

Her total eclipsed the old marks of Vietnam’s Hoang Thi Duyen in snatch (96), clean & jerk (115) and total (210).

It was a nail-biting battle at first between Ando and Hoang in snatch, with the Vietnamese bet starting her lift at 93 kilos, only to fail. She successfully lifted on second attempt but failed on her third at 97 kilos.

Ando, for her part, registered a new SEAG mark in snatch with 98 kilos on her third attempt to take the lead going to the clean & jerk.

Hoang appeared to have no gas left in the tank in the clean & jerk, managing only 112 to finish with 205 for bronze.

Then it was Ando’s turn, where she needed only to lift 118 kilos on her first attempt to capture the gold medal.

Thailand’s Suratwadee Yodsarn finished silver with 206.