Philippine junior lifters dominate Asian meet

MANILA, Philippines — The future looks bright for Philippine weightlifting – evident in the Filipino lifters’ domination of the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan where they have raked in medals including a big pot of gold.

After less than a week of grueling battle, the Nationals have harvested 13 golds, six silvers and nine bronzes.

The most recent golden harvest came from Johdie Peralta, who had three mints – two in the youth women’s 53-kilogram division and one in the junior section of the same weight class.

Alexsandra Ann Diaz, niece of Tokyo Olympics gold winner Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, and Jerick Icon Castro had three each in the youth women’s 49kg, and youth men’s 60kg, respectively, two by Althea Bacaro in the youth women’s 45g, and one apiece by Prince Keil delos Santos in the junior men’s 60kg and Angeline Colonia in the youth women’s 49kg.

“These are our future Olympians,” Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told The STAR.