Pinay lifter shines in World Youth

MANILA, Philippines — Rose Jean Ramos, a 17-year-old weightlifter from Zamboanga, showed her worth as another possible successor to Hidilyn Diaz’ throne, winning a pair of gold medals and a silver in the World Youth Championships in Guanajuato, Mexico yesterday.

Ramos struck gold in the clean and jerk with a lift of 85 kilograms and in total weight with a 155kg while settling for the silver in the snatch with a 70kg in the women’s 45kg class.

She blew away the field that included Venezuelan Kerlys Montilla and Indian Soumya Sunil Dalvi, who wound up second and third in total with 153kg (71kg in snatch and 82kg in clean and jerk) and 148kg (65kg, 83kg), respectively.

It was a reprise of her performance from last year’s edition in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where she bagged mints in snatch and total and silver in clean and jerk.

Ramos also snared a gold and silver in the world tilt hosted by Peru and done online due to the pandemic the previous year, underscoring her ability to follow in the footsteps of Diaz, the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 55kg.

“We’re on a roll,” said Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella.

Puentevella sees great potential in Ramos to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics alongside Diaz and Vanessa Sarno, an 18-year-old who won the 71kg gold in the Hanoi SEA Games in record fashion.