Young lifters keep shining

Young Filipino lifters sustained their brilliance as they added eight medals in the third day of the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships 2023 at the Gautam Buddha University in New Delhi on Sunday evening (Manila time).

Jhodie Peralta made her presence felt as she clinched three gold medals in the youth division of the women's 49-kilogram event after posting 73 kgs in snatch, 87 kgs in clean and jerk and a total lift of 160 kgs.

Rose Jean Ramos also shone, taking home three gold medals in the women's 49-kg junior event with 83 kgs in snatch, 99 kgs in clean and jerk and a total lift of 182 kgs.

Then, Albert Ian Delos Santos completed the Filipinos' dominance as he added two more gold medals from the men's 61-kg youth event with 148 kgs in clean and jerk and a total lift of 238 kgs.

He also earned a pair of silver medals in the same weight class in the junior division as well as in the youth category.

Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Rosalinda Faustino pocketed three medals in the youth division of the women's 55-kg event, taking home a bronze with a snatch of 75 kgs and two silver medals after lifting 97 kgs in clean and jerk and a total lift of 172 kgs.

So far, the Philippines had already collected a total of 16 gold, 10 silver and four bronze medals in just three days in the competition.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella couldn't help but laud his wards for a job well done, saying that the future of the sport that gave the country its first Olympic gold medal is definitely bright.

"Our national team has dominated again. We ruled Asian weightlifting. To God be the glory," Puentevella said.