Peralta, teen wonder, secures another PH gold

Jhodie Peralta, a 15-year-old who now campaigns in a heavier weight class, ruled the women’s youth 55-kilogram category on Saturday evening (early Sunday morning in Manila) as Team Philippines secured another gold medal in the 2024 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Coming off a podium performance in the International Weightlifting Federation World Junior Championships in Leon, Spain three months ago, Peralta had a combined lift of 184kg in total to clinch the title.

She pocketed a bronze medal in the Leon world juniors in the 55kg class where the Philippines likewise brought home a pair of gold medals from Angeline Colonia (45-kg) and Lovely Inan (49-kg).

“So far, every lifter we have brought to the Asian championships has won a medal. They are the future of Philippine weightlifting,’’ Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told the Inquirer.

Peralta, champion in the same continental meet last year in New Delhi, India but entered in the women’s youth 49kg, bagged two golds in the snatch (84kg) and total after moving up to a higher category.

Just short

She nearly topped the clean and jerk before settling for 100kg behind India’s Koyel Bar’s 103. Bar took the silver medal (182) in the total while Vietnam’s Luong Thi Thanh Tuyen got the bronze (178).

Peralta jacked up the nation’s gold collection to five, following the victories of Aldrin Colonia and Eron Borres in the men’s youth -49kg category on Saturday.

Colonia ruled the clean and jerk (118kgs) and the total (213) while Borres assertively grabbed the gold in the snatch with a 97 before suffering from cramps after three failed attempts in the clean and jerk at 115.

“They came out as a one-two punch in their weight category. Borres only got one due to cramps, but Colonia made up for it by delivering two golds,’’ said Puentevella. INQ