Young RP lifters win 12 medals in Asian tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Young but talented Filipino weightlifters continue to show promise in international competition after a six-member team won 12 medals in the recently concluded Asian Youth and Juniors Championship in Jeonju, Korea. The six female weightlifters, supported by the Philippine Weightlifting Federation (PWF) in the weeklong tournament held from November 30 to December 8, was led by Beijing Olympian Hidilyn Diaz. Diaz was joined by Kelly Kay Rojas, Nestor Colonia and Angelica Lado joined hands in winning for the country five gold, four silver and three bronze medals in the tournament sanctioned by the Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) that attracted 41 other countries. “This is a first when we speak of competing in an Asian Youth event and we’re very happy with their performance. It speaks well of the associations drive for a possible medal in the 2012 London Olympics," said PWF secretary general Roger Dullano, who led the team in a courtesy call with PSC commissioner Eric Loretizo Tuesday. Rojas stood out among the members of the team as the Cebuana lifter swept the three gold medals at stake in the snatch, clean and jerk and total event in the 44-kilogram division. The 17-year old Diaz, who got a wild card berth in the Beijing Olympics and finished 11th in the 58 kilogram class, missed to duplicate Rojas’ performance as she missed the gold in the clean and jerk event as she loss to a Kazakhstan rival. Colonia who hails from Zamboanga, added three silver medals in the boys 56 kilogram while Lado completed the medals won by accounting for all the three bronze medals in the +75 kilogram class. Fourteen year old Patricia Llena and Jaymie Mendoza failed to contribute to the medal haul but the experience will help them become better lifters in future international competitions. The Philippines’ medal tally thus placed them at fourth overall behind Chinese Taipei, Japan and Kazakhstan. PWF hopes to ride high on the momentum as they aim to compete in the 2009 Asian Youth Weightlifting Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, which will be a qualifying event for the 2010 World Youth tilt in Singapore. – GMANews.TV