Prepped for LA 2028, Ramos takes Bahrain bronze

Rose Jean Ramos was the youngest among her weight class competitors. —IWF PHOTO

The stars of Philippine weightlifting—present and future—skipped the 2022 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain to focus on an upcoming Olympic qualifier.

Rose Jean Ramos took it upon herself to put the country on the podium at Crown Plaza in the capital city of Manama on Monday.

The 17-year-old youth and juniors world champion bagged a bronze medal in the clean and jerk of the women’s 45-kilogram category with an 85-kg lift, barely missing out on a podium finish for snatch.

“This Asian [tournament] in Bahrain is not an Olympic qualifier. But we joined because this is the way to produce Olympic and future champions,’’ said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella, explaining the absence of the likes of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and world champion Vanessa Sarno.

Since the Bahrain contest is not a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Games, the weightlifting association has decided to let its best lifters forgo the meet and focus on the world championships in Colombia this December, an Olympic qualifier.

According to Puentevella, nine of the country’s best lifters will be there, spearheaded by Diaz.

Joining Diaz in the world championships are Sarno, Kristel Macrohon, Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando, Lovely Inan and Ramos’ sister Rosegie. Rio de Janeiro Olympian Nestor Colonia, John Ceniza and John Pacaldo will banner the men’s squad.

Rose Jean Ramos was just a kilogram shy of a bronze in the snatch following a 67-kg effort, which was eclipsed by the 68 kg of India’s Harshada Garud, who eventually took the bronze in the total as well despite completing a similar 152 output with the Filipino lifter, who is being prepped for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.“She’s the world champion for youth and juniors. But despite being six years younger than the gold medalist, she still won a bronze in the Asian seniors championship,’’ said Puentevella.

Rose Jean was invincible in the past three editions of the world youth championships: 2020 in Peru, 2021 in Saudi Arabia and 2022 in Mexico. INQ