EIGHT promising Filipino weightlifters departed for Astana, Kazakhstan, Monday night, June 30, to represent the country in the 2025 Youth and Junior Asian Weightlifting Championships, which officially begins on Friday, July 4.
Leading the youth delegation is Alexsandra Ann Diaz, niece of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo.
Alexsandra, who clinched double gold in the women’s 45kg category at the World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru, last May, will now move up to compete in the 48kg division.
Joining her is fellow world champion Jhodie Peralta, who swept three golds in the junior women’s 55kg class
in Lima.
This time, Peralta will drop to the 53kg category and will compete in both youth and junior divisions.
Rounding out the youth team are Princess Jay Ann Diaz (w44kg) and Jerick Icon Castro (m56kg).
In the junior division, the Philippines will be represented by Angeline Colonia (w48kg), Prince Keil Delos Santos (m60kg), Mango Prince David Tarro (m65kg), and Albert Ian Delos Santos (m71kg).
The team is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and will be mentored by national coaches Edmundo Jose Cardano, Diwa Delos Santos, and Olympian Nestor Colonia. / RP2 SPORTS