14-year-old weightlifter Jeaneth Hipolito wins the bronze medal. PH WEIGHTLIFTING PHOTO/Roselle Destura
Jeaneth Hipolito gave the Philippines a rousing start in the 2021 International Weightlifting Federation Youth World Championship, snatching a bronze medal against the globe’s finest junior lifters in her class.
The promising 14-year-old from Zamboanga City lifted 52 kilograms on her third try in the snatch to reach the podium of the women’s 40kg category held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Hipolito actually registered 48 kg in the initial attempt, but wasn’t able to hoist the bar efficiently at 51 kg, prompting her to make the gamble by increasing the weight to 52 that proved beneficial.
The 2019 Batang Pinoy champion placed fourth in the clean and jerk with a best lift of 62kg and wound up fifth in the total (114kgs).
“International exposure is always good for our young lifters. They are the future of Philippine weightlifting,’’ said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
14-year-old weightlifter Jeaneth Hipolito wins bronze. IWF SCREENGRAB
Ezgi Kilic of Turkey collected all three gold medals—55kg in the snatch and 70kg in the clean and jerk for a best total of 125kgs.
Lawren Sofia Estrada Velez of Colombia got the silver in the snatch (53kg) and Darly Marely Canto Colli of Mexico seized the same medal color in the C&J (66kg).
In the total, Velez placed second and Colli third, both of them posting a compounded tally of 118kgs.
Filipino junior lifters Adrian Cristobal and Albert Ian Delos Santos will see action Wednesday afternoon in the men’s 61kg.