FILE – Filipino weightlifter Rose Jean Ramos rules women’s 45kg division. IWF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—World champion Rose Jean Ramos gingerly climbed the elite ranks of continental weightlifting and made a promising account of herself.
The 17-year-old youth and juniors world titlist bagged a bronze medal in the clean and jerk of the women’s 45kg category with an 85kg lift during the ongoing 2022 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Manama, Bahrain.
Ramos was just a kilogram shy of placing third in the snatch following a 67kg effort, which was shadowed by the 68 of India’s Harshada Garud, who eventually took the bronze in the total as well despite completing a similar 152 output with the Filipina lifter.
“She’s the world champion for youth and juniors. But despite of being six years younger than the gold medalist, she still won a bronze in the Asian seniors championship,” said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
Vietnam’s Khong My Phurong ruled the snatch (78kg) and total (166) while Siti Nafisatul Hariroh of Indonesia topped the clean and jerk (91).
“She’s the youngest in the field. This is the way to build future champions by facing the best seniors in Asia,” said Puentevella.
The Asian champs is not a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics. According to Puentevella, they will send the country’s nine best lifters to the Olympic-qualifier world championship in Colombia this December, including Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
“We will preserve them for the qualifying. To avoid injuries, we skipped this (Asian champs) to give more importance and priority to Columbia,” said Puentevella.
Joining Diaz in the world championships are Vanessa Sarno, Kristel Macrohon, Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando, Lovely Inan and Rosegie Ramos while Rio de Janeiro Olympian Nestor Colonia, John Ceniza and John Pacaldo will banner the men’s squad.
“We’ve been doing everything to have our boys join the Olympic ranks and compete with our medal-winning women. We skipped the Asian, so we can join the world (championships). The Olympics is our main goal,” said Puentevella.
Ramos was invincible in the past three editions of the world youth championships in 2020 Peru, 2021 Saudi Arabia and 2022 Mexico.
The Zamboanga City lifting wonder is likewise the reigning champion in the snatch of the world juniors in her weight class.