PH kicks off IWF World Youth Championships campaign with 8 medals

MANILA, July 8 ------ The Philippines bagged eight medals, including four golds to kick off its campaign at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Youth Championships in Cali, Colombia.

Alexsandra Ann Diaz of Mampang, Zamboanga City, topped the women’s 48kg category, lifting 77kg in snatch. Diaz, niece of the Philippines’ first-ever Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, also set new youth world records in clean and jerk (98kg) and total (175kg).

Jay-r Colonia, also from Zamboanga City, was second overall in the men’s 56kg event. He won the clean and jerk gold medal in 140kg and took the silver in snatch (109kg) and total (249kg). Cebuano Althea Bacaro ranked third in the women’s 44kg category. She bagged the silver in clean and jerk (80kg) and the bronze in total (140kg) and placed fourth in the snatch (60kg). “This is where it all starts. In preparation for the Asian Games and ultimately, the Olympics. We compete against the best in the world. Thanks to the Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation, ICTSI, Sy Group, AyalaLand, our parents, national coaches, and to God be the glory,” Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella said in an interview.

Source: inquirer.net