Filipino weightlifter Rose Jean Ramos rules women’s 45kg division. IWF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Rose Jean Ramos has been trumpeted as one of the worthy successors of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
The 16-year-old from Zamboanga City is progressively living up to the forecast by proving herself, this time by claiming two gold medals and a silver in a face-to-face encounter with her toughest foes at the 2021 International Weightlifting Federation Youth World Championships.
Ramos asserted herself in the exact women’s 45kg division in the same tournament last year where she won a gold and a silver which was held online and hosted by Peru.
The golden efforts of the Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games champion came in the snatch where she lifted 67 kilograms and the total (147kgs) during the tournament held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where Ramos was a clear favorite.
Ramos, who has been projected as a possible Diaz heir apparent together with her elder sister Rosegie, also pocketed a silver in the clean and jerk in her first attempt at 80.
Jeaneth Hipolito, another big Hidilyn Diaz fan, gave the Team Philippine campaign a rousing start on Wednesday when the 14-year-old Zamboanga City lass produced a bronze medal in the snatch of the women’s 40kg category.
“They (Hipolito and Ramos) are seen as future Olympians in Los Angeles 2028, but it highly depends on their determination to succeed,’’ said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
After lifting 63 and 65, Ramos sealed the triumph in the snatch on the third and last attempt with a 67, duplicating her golden feat in the online meet last year.
She wasn’t able to hoist 82kg in the clean and jerk and her 80 was good enough for a silver, but the room Ramos created in the snatch proved pivotal in the total.
“They are going through the same route as Hidilyn. With enough support, they will also win medals in big tournaments for the country,’’ said Puentevella.
Diaz, the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, also had her humble beginnings in the PSC Batang Pinoy Games before kicking off her four Olympic appearances as a 17-year-old in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Oliwia Drzazga of Poland claimed the gold in the clean and jerk with an 85 while Indonesia’s Najla Khoirunnisa got the bronze on her second attempt at 80.
In the snatch, Ruth Fuentefria of Spain placed second with a 63 and Khoirunnisa third with a 62 while Drzazga seized the silver in the total (143kg) and Khoirunnisa the bronze (142kg).