Bronze in Asian lifting

There was some reluctance from the Samahang Weightlifting Sa Pilipinas (SWP) to send athletes to the ongoing Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, India but SWP president Monico Puentevella relented in the end and agreed to enter two competitors.

“Honestly, I was hesitant to join after hearing of a new epidemic but couldn’t refuse the request of my peers (in the Asian Weightlifting Federation) to attend,” said Puentevella. “I was president of the federation more than 10 years ago. So I decided to attend the Congress since there was a new Constitution to be approved.”

SWP coaches Joe Patrick Diaz and Kelle Kay Rojas initially listed three athletes to compete but later decided to send two. “We’re training for the National Open in General Santos City on June 2-10 with Manny Pacquiao as the main sponsor and the Nagoya Asian Games in September,” said Puentevella. “(Vanessa) Sarno got sick during the Asian Weightlifting Youth and Junior Championships in New Delhi three years ago and was confined in the ICU of a local hospital. That’s why I opted not to join at first.”

Representing the country were women’s 48kg Rose Jean Ramos and men’s 65kg Dave Lloyd Pacaldo. Ramos, 20, is from Mampang, Zamboanga City and joined the national pool in 2019. She started lifting in 2014 under coach Allen Jayfrus Diaz. Ramos is Hidilyn Diaz’ cousin. Pacaldo, 26, is from Tagbilaran, Bohol, and began lifting in 2013 under coach Nicolas Jaluag. He entered the national pool in 2019.

Ramos is a two-time World Youth champion in the 45kg class, topping the event in Jeddah in 2021 and Leon, Mexico, in 2022. A year later, she took the 45kg silvers in snatch, clean and jerk and total at the Asian Championships in Jinju, South Korea. In Gandhinagar a few days ago, Ramos bagged a bronze with an 8lkg hoist in snatch.

Pacaldo won the gold medal in the 65kg category at the Southeast Asian Championships in Singapore last year but in Gandhinagar, was injured in his second clean and jerk attempt. He wound up ninth overall. “It was a hip problem,” said Puentevella. “There was a snap. Needs some rest. Despite the injury. he fought but was messed up. It’s OK, he’s still young naman and he’ll be back.”

Puentevella said he expects more lifting prospects to emerge from the Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur on May 24-31 and the NCAA which added gymnastics, boxing, golf and weightlifting to its calendar as demonstration sports this season. UAAP has yet to approve weightlifting in its program. “We’ve been lobbying for 10 years to bring weightlifting to the UAAP,” said Puentevella. “We’re hoping the UAAP Board will consider it.”