Rosegie Ramos proves mettle, puts Paris Olympics berth within grasp

Rosegie Ramos (right) with weightlifting president Monico Puentevella at the ongoing Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Weightlifting star Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo saw the promise in Rosegie Ramos and took the latter under her wings.

The Asian weightlifting junior champion didn’t disappoint, climbing the medal platform in the women’s 49-kilogram class at the continent’s ongoing premier meet—the Asian Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Ramos snagged a silver medal in the snatch with an 88-kg effort before claiming the bronze in the clean and jerk that bolstered her bid of qualifying to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“One more (tournament) to go. Right now, she’s probably in the top five after that performance in the Asian championships,’’ Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told the Inquirer.

READ: Rosegie Ramos finishes fifth in Asian Games debut

The former Philippine Olympic Committee chair and Bacolod City solon is looking at the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup on April 2 to April 11 in Phuket, Thailand, as potentially the tournament where Ramos books her ticket to Paris.

There, the final Olympic rankings will be decided where the top 10 in the weight category of Ramos after five IWF-sanctioned tournaments seize a valuable spot in the quadrennial Summer Games in the French capital slated from July 26 to Aug. 11.

Ramos placed third in the total with a combined lift of 190 behind gold medalist Ri Song Gum of North Korea (220 kg) and silver medalist Rira Suzuki of Japan (191).

‘Anything can happen’

According to Puentevella, Ri, who also won the snatch (95) and the clean and jerk (125), isn’t participating in the Olympics.

Suzuki claimed the bronze in the snatch (82), but made up for it in the clean and jerk (109) that nipped Ramos.

“Without the North Korean in Paris who got three golds, anything can happen. But she’s (Ramos) got to train every day to reach her goal. She’s got a chance. Let God do the rest,’’ said Puentevella.

READ: SEA Games: Rosegie Ramos debuts with bronze in weightlifting

The 19-year-old from Zamboanga City has become Diaz-Naranjo’s training partner at the latter’s camp in Jala-Jala, Rizal.

Ramos likewise accompanied Diaz-Naranjo, who is bidding for a fifth straight Olympic appearance, in foreign camps in the United States and Bahrain, among others, the past two years.

“We were able to empower Rosegie in our training. I can see the promise in her,’’ said Diaz-Naranjo.

Ramos claimed the gold medal in the women’s 49 kg during the 2022 Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a title that trumpeted her coming as a Diaz-Naranjo heir apparent.