Rose Jean Ramos is the youngest of her weight class competitors. —IWF PHOTOS
The stars of Philippine weightlifting — present and future — have skipped the 2022 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain to focus on the upcoming Olympic qualifiers.
Rose Jean Ramos took it upon herself to put the country on the podium at Crown Plaza in the capital Manama on Monday.
The 17-year-old youth and junior world champion won bronze in the women’s 45kg and 85kg jerks, coming close to winning bronze in the jerks.
“This Asian [tournament] in Bahrain is not an Olympic qualifier. But we participate because this is how Olympic champions and future champions are born,” said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella, explaining the absence of winners. Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and world champion Vanessa Sarno.
As the Bahrain competition was not a qualifying event for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the weightlifting association decided to let their best weightlifters forego the meeting and focus on the world championships. world in Colombia in December of this year, an Olympic qualifier.
According to Puentevella, nine of the country’s best lifters will be there, led by Diaz.
Joining Diaz in the world championship were Sarno, Kristel Macrohon, Tokyo Olympian Elreen Ando, Lovely Inan and Ramos’ sister Rosegie. Rio de Janeiro Olympic athletes Nestor Colonia, John Ceniza and John Pacaldo will lead the men’s team.
Rose Jean Ramos was just one kilogram short of bronze in the scramble after a 67-kilogram effort, overshadowed by the 68 kilograms of India’s Harshada Garud, who eventually won bronze despite finishing a similar 152 output with Filipino lifter who is preparing for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. “She is a world champion for youth and juniors. But despite being six years younger than the gold medalist, she still won the bronze medal at the Asian Senior Championships,” said Puentevella.
Rose Jean has been undefeated in three previous world youth championships: 2020 in Peru, 2021 in Saudi Arabia and 2022 in Mexico. INQ
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