By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The future of Philippine weightlifting looks bright after Rosegie Ramos and Jhodie Peralta accounted for six of the team’s eight-gold haul on Sunday, July 30, in the 2023 Asian Youth and Junior Championships in New Delhi, India.
Ramos, 19, flexed her might in women’s junior 49-kilogram division by sweeping the three gold medals at stake – winning in snatch with a lift of 83 kilos, clean and jerk on 99 kilos, and total on 182 kilos.
Peralta, likewise, reigned supreme in the women’s youth 49kg with gold medals in snatch (73 kilos), clean and jerk (87) and total (160).
Not to be left out was Albert Ian Delos Santos, who clinched two golds in the men’s youth 61kg.
After failing to make into the podium in snatch with a 110-kg lift, Delos Santos bounced back with a lift of 148 kilos in clean and jerk on the way to clinching the gold in total on 158 kilos.
His performance, however, was only gold for silver in clean and jerk as well as total in the junior division of the same weight category.
Also showing promise was Rosalinda Faustino in women’s youth 55kg.
Faustino settled for bronze in snatch with 75 kilos, but managed a silver in clean and jerk on 97 kilos. Her total lift of 172 kilos earned her a silver medal.
So far, the PH team has reaped 16 gold, 10 silver and four bronze medals in the first three days of competition with more events still lined up in the coming days.
Out to bring more mints for the squad are two-time Southeast Asian Games champion Vanessa Sarno in the women’s youth 71kg, Christian Rodriguez in men’s youth 67kg and Lovely Inan.
