SWP expects more medals to come

The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is hoping that its last two bets — Rianne Cabalida and Jea Mae Palagtiw — will end their respective campaigns with a bang in the IWF World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

SWP president Monico Puentevella told DAILY TRIBUNE that he is optimistic Cabalida and Palagtiw, who dominated the Private Schools Athletic Association in Bacolod City last May, will keep the momentum going after the Filipino lifters already collected 11 medals.

Cabadila will compete in the women’s 69-kilogram category on Friday at 7 a.m. (Manila time), while Palagtiw will vie in the women’s 77kg division on Saturday at 8 a.m.

“SWP has a simple policy: You win and you travel. You lose and you go back to the barracks,” Puentevella said in an online conversation on Wednesday.

“I’m praying for more medals.”

The Philippines has so far won four gold, six silver and one bronze medal to underscore its dominance in the World Youth Championships.

Alexsandra Diaz, the niece of Tokyo Olympics champion Hidilyn Diaz and national coach Allen Diaz, gave the Filipino lifters a strong start by winning three gold medals in the women’s 48kg division and setting two new world records after lifting 98kgs in the clean and jerk and posting a total lift of 175kgs.

Jay-R Colonia bagged another gold medal for the Philippines in the men’s 56kg division with a clean-and-jerk score of 140kgs while also clinching a silver medal in the snatch with 109kgs and another silver for his total lift of 249kgs.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 44kg division, Althea Bacaro settled for a silver medal in clean and jerk with 80kgs while capturing a bronze medal with a total lift of 140kgs.

Two-time Asian Youth Games medalist Jhodie Peralta snagged two silver medals in the women’s 53kg category after lifting 85kgs in the snatch and recording a total lift of 188kgs.

Kirby Alas-as added another silver medal to the Filipinos’ haul after lifting 113kgs in the clean-and-jerk in the men’s 60kg division.