The Philippine weightlifting team collected six medals for a strong start in the Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan last Friday.

Angeline Colonia won the gold in the junior women’s 48-kilogram category after lifting 77kgs in the snatch.

Meanwhile, Princess Jay Ann Diaz, niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, got a silver in the snatch by doing 62kgs and two bronze medals in the clean-and-jerk with 78kgs and the total lift of 140kgs in the youth women’s 44kg division.

In the youth women’s 48kg class, Alexsandra Ann Diaz, another niece of Hidilyn, added two more medals with a silver in the clean-and-jerk with 85kgs and a bronze for the total lift of 153kgs.

The Philippines is expected to pocket more medals in the coming days with more world-class weightlifters expected to deliver.

World champions Prince Keil Delos Santos and Jhodie Peralta are expected to deliver as well once they compete in the junior men’s 60kg and junior and youth women’s 53kg, respectively.

Also set to see action for the Philippines in the junior division are Mango Prince David Tarro in the men’s 65kg and Albert Ian delos Santos in the 71kg.

Competing in the youth division is Jerick Icon Castro in the men’s 56kg.