Teen Rose Jean knocking on World Championship door

Filipino weightlifter Rose Jean Ramos rules women’s 45kg division. IWF PHOTO

Rose Jean Ramos built a strong case for herself as far as inclusion to the Philippine squad in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships is concerned.

Her gold medals for two consecutive years in the women’s 45-kilogram division of the IWF Youth World Championships are compelling arguments that could speak on behalf of the 16-year-old lifting prodigy.“If ever I will be given the opportunity to compete [in the world championship], I will do everything I can to win a gold medal,’’ Ramos told the Inquirer in Filipino.

If Ramos makes the list, she will join the elite cast of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando in carrying the load for the Philippines to capture medals in the worlds on Dec. 7-17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games champion from Zamboanga City ruled her weight class by claiming two gold medals in the snatch and total, while bringing home a silver in the clean and jerk during the just-concluded youth tilt in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ramos immediately got a congratulatory message from Diaz, the first Olympic gold winner from the Philippines, aside from receiving valuable tips and pieces of advice.

“She (Diaz) was really supportive and gave me plenty of advice,’’ said Ramos, touted as a possible successor to Diaz.

Ramos had a best lift of 67kg in snatch in the youth world champs and 80 in the clean and jerk for a 147-kg total. She likewise claimed a gold medal and a silver during the 2020 IWF Youth World Championships, which was held online and hosted by Peru.

Should she make the team, Ramos will contend with seasoned lifters like Turkey’s Saziye Erdogan, the reigning champion in their division, Cuba’s Ludia Montero, Indonesia’s Lisa Setiawati and Vietnamese Khong My Phuong and Vuong Thi Huyen. INQ