Delos Santos strikes Asian gold

Albert Ian delos Santos pocketed the Philippines' second gold medal, this time in the men’s 71-kilogram event, of the Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan last Sunday.

Delos Santos lifted 177kgs in the clean and jerk to win the gold medal and even snagged a silver medal after lifting a total of 313kgs.

The 18-year-old lifter from Zamboanga City is coming off a successful campaign in the IWF Youth and Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru last May where he won two golds.

The only other Filipino lifter who struck gold in the Asian competition was Rosalinda Faustino in the junior women’s 48kg category when she lifted 77kgs in the snatch.

The Philippines now has a total of two gold, seven silver, and seven bronze medals in the prestigious continental event.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella expressed happiness over the lifters’ solid showing.

“Congrats to Albert but I’m happier with the medals the whole team won. Those who did not get medals will sit it out and improve if they want to wear our national colors. That's the SWP way,” Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE.

“Medal or you go back to the gym. Only then can you make the next trip. With China around, we’re fighting the best.”

Also clinching medals for the Philippines was Princess Jay Ann Diaz, niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who bagged a silver in the snatch with 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 category, Alexandra Ann Diaz added two more medals with a silver in the clean-and-jerk with 85kgs and a bronze for a total lift of 153kgs.

Jhodie Peralta clinched three silver medals in the youth women’s 53kg category and two bronze medals in the junior division of the same weight category.

She lifted 84kgs in snatch, 97kgs in clean-and-jerk for a total of 181kgs.

In the youth men’s 60kg division, Jerick Icon Castro clinched one silver and two bronze medals for the Philippines after lifting 105kgs in the snatch and 128kgs in the clean-and-jerk for a total of 233kgs.