By Jean Malanum
MANILA – Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo leads the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) national training pool for 2025.
Olympian Elreen Ann Ando, a gold medalist at the 2023 SEA Games, is also in the roster along with Angeline Colonia and Lovely Inan, who bagged two gold medals and a silver each at the 2024 IWF World Junior Championships in Leon, Spain.
Other members of the women’s team are siblings Rosegie and Rose Jean Ramos, Rosalinda Faustino, Kristel Macrohon, Jhodie Peralta, Alexsandra Ann Diaz, Kim April Inan, Jeaneth Hipolito, Princess Jay Ann Diaz, Althea Bacaro, Annie-Rose Lacastesantos, Rhianne Cabalida, April Durango, Elizabeth Grapes Tarro, Albe May Ella Bacaro, Hannah Shene Cabalida, Eleika Lozada and Jea Mae Palagtaw.
Rosegie Ramos (Junior) and Peralta (Youth) won three golds each, Rose Jean Ramos (Junior) got one gold and two silvers, and Faustino (Youth) grabbed two silvers and one bronze at the 2023 Asian Youth and Junior Championships in India.
Aldrin Colonia and Prince Keil Delos Santos also won medals at the 2024 Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Qatar.
Colonia delivered two golds and one silver in the Youth category, while Delos Santos secured three silvers in the Youth and three bronzes in the Junior category.
Colonia and Delos Santos are in the men’s training pool along with Eron Borres, Albert Ian Delos Santos, Fernando Agad Jr., siblings Dave Lloyd and Dave Angelo Pacaldo, Mudzaffhar Sulaiman, Carl Andrew Macaso, Jose Dayao III, Jay-R Colonia, Jerick Icon Castro, Eleaphraime Limmong, Mango Prince Tarro, John Dexter Tabique and Dave Yuan Cuandot.
The SWP National Open 5-in-1 will be held in Dumaguete City in May to select the members of the team for the SEA Games in Thailand this December.
The Philippines will also join the IWF World Youth and Junior in Lima, Peru (April 30-May 5), SEAWF Championships in Singapore (June 13-15), IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway (Oct. 3-12) and Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain (Oct. 22-31). (PNA)
