Filipino Weightlifters Secure Eight Gold Medals at Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Tashkent

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino weightlifters delivered a dominant performance at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Saturday, capturing eight gold medals amid a strong overall medal haul. The Philippine team’s success mirrored the heavy rains back home in Manila, with gold medals pouring in throughout the competition.

Leading the charge was 15-year-old Alexsandra Ann Diaz, niece of Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo. Diaz swept all three gold medals in the youth women’s 49-kilogram category, achieving lifts of 77 kilograms in the snatch and 92 kilograms in the clean and jerk, for a combined total of 169 kilograms. Her lifts also counted in the junior division, where she earned two bronze medals in the snatch and total categories.

Another standout was Jerick Icon Castro, who also secured a clean sweep of gold medals in the youth men’s 60-kilogram division. Castro lifted 116 kilograms in the snatch and 144 kilograms in the clean and jerk, culminating in a total of 243 kilograms.

Additional gold medals came from Prince Keil delos Santos, who lifted 120 kilograms in the snatch in the junior men’s 60-kilogram category, and Angeline Colonia, who posted an 80-kilogram snatch in the women’s 49-kilogram class. Delos Santos also earned two bronze medals for his 144-kilogram clean and jerk and 264-kilogram total, while Colonia added two silver medals in the clean and jerk (93 kilograms) and total (173 kilograms) events.

Kirby Kent Alas contributed two bronze medals in the youth men’s 60-kilogram class, lifting 110 kilograms in the snatch and totaling 243 kilograms. These efforts helped boost the Philippines’ overall medal count to 10 golds, including two won by Althea Bacaro in the youth women’s 45-kilogram division the previous day, along with four silvers and nine bronzes.

The strong showing by the Filipino contingent at the Asian Youth and Junior Championships highlights the country’s growing prominence in weightlifting on the continental stage. The performances of young athletes like Diaz and Castro signal a promising future for Philippine weightlifting as they continue to develop and compete internationally.

With a total of 23 medals, the Philippines demonstrated depth and talent across multiple weight classes and age groups, setting a solid foundation for upcoming competitions and the eventual goal of excelling at the Asian Games and Olympic level. The team’s success in Tashkent reflects the ongoing efforts of coaches, athletes, and sports officials to nurture the next generation of champions.