All news tagged Weightlifting

Filipina weightlifter Jhodie Peralta delivered a strong showing at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, capturing medals in both the snatch and clean and jerk events of the Girls’ 57-kg category.

Peralta came close to clinching gold in the snatch, lifting 85 kg and 87 kg before narrowly missing her final attempt. Her 87-kg lift was enough to secure the silver medal, just behind North Korea’s Hae Yon Pak, who topped the event with 88 kg—a new World and Asian Youth record.

“I was so close, but I will strive to improve next time,” Peralta told POC Media following her podium finish.

In the clean and jerk, Peralta managed a 100-kg lift to claim the bronze medal after unsuccessful tries at 105 kg and 107 kg. Pak once again dominated the event, setting new world and continental marks with a 107-kg lift, while Vietnam’s Lien Y earned silver with a total of 188 kg.

Peralta’s double-podium performance marked another proud moment for the Philippines in the continental youth stage, highlighting her potential as one of the country’s emerging weightlifting stars.

Despite missing out on the Paris Olympics in 2024, Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo remains undeterred. The country’s first Olympic gold medalist is now focused on the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand, where she will compete in the women’s 58-kilogram division.

“I’m preparing for the SEA Games. Maglalaro po ako ngayong December. Again, depende sa Philippine delegation, pero maglalaro po ako,” Diaz-Naranjo shared, her determination unwavering.

For the Filipina weightlifting icon, representing the nation remains central to her career. “Bumabalik ako parati sa why. It’s always to represent my country and doing my best for the Philippines in weightlifting and also to inspire young Filipinos,” she said.

Diaz-Naranjo already boasts two SEA Games gold medals in the 55kg category and two silvers in the 58kg class, but she knows each competition demands renewed commitment.

Balancing Acts: Training, Coaching, and Inspiring the Youth

While preparing for the SEA Games, Diaz-Naranjo juggles multiple roles: mentoring young lifters for Batang Pinoy, giving motivational talks, and pushing grassroots development in weightlifting.

“Yes, [I’m] very busy. Pero ayun nga, kung may tinatarget ka, you prioritize training kahit saan ka man. Kaya tinatanong ko talaga sa hotel kung may gym ba sila. Baka pwede akong mag-training doon,” she explained.

She often trains before or after coaching sessions to maintain her own focus. “Hindi ko sinasabayan na training and coaching… minsan nag-training ako before or after nila para makapag-focus ako,” she added.

Building Back Discipline and Focus

With less than three months before the SEA Games, Diaz-Naranjo admitted she’s still finding her rhythm. “How prepared? Sorry to say, nasa 70 pa lang. So, restart ako. Nag-training ako, pero iba yung talagang from mag-start ako sa anong ginawa ko nung sa Olympics,” she shared.

Her preparation is both physical and mental, with renewed emphasis on mindset and weekly mental training. She’s also prioritizing injury prevention and diet as she balances her demanding schedule with consistent workouts.

Olympian weightlifter Vanessa Sarno will be sidelined indefinitely after accepting a two-year ban from the International Testing Agency (ITA) for an alleged anti-doping rule violation, combined with personal circumstances including her pregnancy.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella confirmed that the 20-year-old Asian champion and SEA Games gold medalist is currently on leave from the national team. 

“She got pregnant,” Puentevella shared, adding that Sarno has been away from the squad for months.

According to the ITA, Sarno’s suspension began on August 4, 2025, and runs until August 3, 2027, following three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period. She did not contest the sanction.

Puentevella emphasized that Sarno’s absence is primarily due to her failure to report and her personal situation, declining further comment on the doping issue.

“She’s out for failure to report,” Puentevella added.

Sarno, long regarded as the heir apparent to Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, was expected to spearhead the Philippines’ weightlifting campaign in upcoming international events. With her absence, the country faces a significant gap in its medal hopes.

Puentevella declined to comment further on the doping issue but reiterated that Sarno’s absence from the national team was primarily due to failure to report and her personal situation.

Sarno, widely seen as the heir apparent to Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, was expected to lead the country’s weightlifting campaign in upcoming international tournaments. 

With her sidelined, Philippine weightlifting faces a significant gap in its medal hopes.

Zamboangueña weightlifting standout Angeline Colonia is setting her sights on greater achievements after clinching a gold medal in the snatch event at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships held from July 4 to 10 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Competing in the Junior Women’s 48kg division, Colonia lifted 77 kilograms in the snatch to top the category and earn gold. She also placed fourth in both the clean and jerk (88 kg) and overall total (165 kg).

"I'm so happy. I just prayed for a good performance. I did not expect to win the gold in snatch," Colonia shared in an interview on Wednesday, July 30, her voice reflecting both gratitude and surprise.

The victory in Kazakhstan comes just months after Colonia’s strong showing at the World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru last May, where she bagged a silver in snatch and bronze in total while competing in the Junior 45kg division.

Colonia was among a group of young Zamboangueño athletes honored by Mayor Khymer Olaso during the city’s flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 28, at Zamboanga City Hall. 

Another bronze medal was delivered by Rosegie Ramos for the six-man Philippines team in the IWF World Championships in Bahrain. 

The 20-year-old weightlifter achieved a total lift of 88kgs in the snatch and 105kgs in the clean-and-jerk for a total lift of 193kgs in the 49-kg category.

Ri Song Gum of North Korea dominated the women’s 49-kg event after lifting a total of 213kgs behind a snatch of 91kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 122kgs.

Meanwhile, Linxiang Xiang setteled for a silver after lifting a snatch of 92kgs and a clean-and-jerk of 120kgs for a total lift of 212kgs.

Her success was followed by another bronze medal for the Philippines when Fernando Agad Jr. excelled in the men’s 55-kg category.

After receiving the medal, the weightlifter from Zamboanga City expressed her gratitude in a long post on her official social media page.