Rosalinda Faustino (middle) during the awarding ceremony at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship. –ASIAN WEIGHTLIFTING PHOTO
Team Philippines is in its most scintillating campaign yet in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships, which is seen as a sign of things to come as these kids continue going down the path that leads to the Olympics.
Siblings Rose Jean and Rosegie Ramos were peerless in the tournament while Rosalinda Faustino and Angeline Colonia also dominated their respective weight classes, as the four pooled a total of 12 gold medals in the ongoing event in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“This is a golden trip. We kept on winning gold medals everyday. Our future is here,’’ said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
And the national team isn’t even done yet.
Eighteen-year-old Vanessa Sarno will close out the country’s campaign on Thursday with a possible sweep of her events in the women’s junior -71 kilogram where she’s the reigning Asian champion.
“Vanessa will be ready for [the 2024] Paris [Olympics] while Rose Jean, Rosegie, Angeline and Rosalinda should be ready for [the] 2028 Los Angeles [Games],’’ said Puentevella.
“Our master plan is on the right track,’’ added Puentevella, who is credited for bringing local weightlifting to its summit last year in the Tokyo Olympics when Hidilyn Diaz won the first-ever gold medal for the nation.
After 17-year-old Rose Jean collected four gold medals and the 15-year-old Colonia snatched two in record-shattering fashion on the first two days, Rosegie, 18, and Faustino, 15, combined for six gold medals late Tuesday evening.
Rosegie swept all the golds in the junior women’s 49-kg division after topping the snatch (80 kgs), clean and jerk (96 kgs) and the total (176kgs).
Faustino ruled the snatch (71 kgs), clean and jerk (90 kgs) and total (161kgs) in the women’s youth 49-kg category.
“Even for me, this is quite a revelation. Twelve golds in three days and Vanessa hasn’t performed yet,’’ said Puentevella.