MANILA – The Philippines will send 15 athletes to the Asian Youth and Junior Championships scheduled on December 16-23 in Qatar.
The Youth division is for athletes 13-17 years old while the Junior division is for 15 to 20 years old.
Angeline Colonia from Zamboanga City, who debuted at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games with a silver medal in the women’s 45kg class, will banner the team.
Also in the women’s line-up are siblings Lovely and Kim April Inan, Rose Jean Ramos, Rosalinda Faustino, Jhodie Peralta, Althea Bacaro, siblings Princess Jay Ann and Alexsandra Ann Diaz, and Jeaneth Hipolito.
In the men’s division are Eron Borres, Aldrin Colonia, Prince Keil Delos Santos, Eleaphraime Limmong and Jose Dayao III.
The athletes will be accompanied by Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella and coaches Edmundo Jose Cardano, Patrick Lee, Kelle Kay Rojas, Allen Jayfrus Diaz and Joe Patrick Diaz.
Lovely Inan won the silver in snatch (79) and the gold medals clean and jerk (100) and total (179), while Peralta bagged the bronze medal in snatch (85) at the World Juniors in Leon, Spain last month.
The Philippines has impressive records at the Asian Youth and Junior Championships.
The medalists in New Delhi, India last year were Peralta (3 golds, Youth 49kg), Colonia (3 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze, Youth/Junior 45kg), Rosegie Ramos (3 golds, Junior 49kg), Rose Jean Ramos (1 gold and 2 silvers, Junior 45kg), Albert Ian delos Santos (2 golds and 2 silvers, Youth/Junior 61kg), Alexsandra Ann Diaz (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, Youth 40kg), Faustino (2 silvers and 1 bronze, Youth 55kg), Prince Keil Delos Santos (2 golds and 1 silver) and Borres (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, Youth 49kg category).
The podium finishers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan two years ago were Vanessa Sarno (3 golds), Rose Jean Ramos (4 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze), Faustino (3 golds), Ramos (3 golds), Colonia (2 golds, 1 silver), and Prince Keil Delos Santos (2 bronzes). (PNA)