SWP chief sees bright future for young lifters

The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) is confident of discovering future champions and making them ready for a strong campaign in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.SWP president Monico Puentevella said Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo's victory in Tokyo four years ago served as an inspiration for others to follow her path. And with the recent triumphs in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) Youth and Junior World Championships in Peru where Jay R Colonia and Jhodie Peralta led the country's haul of 10 gold, three silver, and three bronze medals, Puentevella is optimistic that the federation is in the right direction.“Malaki ang pag-asa ng bansa sa Los Angeles Olympics… tingin ko meron tayo do’n (mapadala) ng apat or lima,” said Puentevella. The 16-year-old Colonia bagged two golds and one silver in men’s youth 49kg, while Peralta swept her events in women's youth 55kg to take home three top honors.Aside from Colonia and Peralta, Ian Delos Santos also dazzled in men's junior 67kg, plucking two golds, while Alexsandra Diaz of women's youth 45kg had two golds and one bronze, Althea Bacaro of women's youth 40kg with one gold, one silver, and one bronze, and Angeline Colonia of women's junior 45kg with one silver and one bronze.“In the World Youth last month, China won five golds, and the Philippines also got five. That’s why in LA, it’ll be a clash of Chinese and Filipino lifters,” Puentevella continued in Tuesday’s PSA Forum which Presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.“Ang Pilipinas, maliit lang ‘yong budget compared to China pero five golds din tayo. Before, ang layo natin sa China [tyaka] parang panaginip lang,” added the former Philippine Sports Commission who is a Bacolod native.Less than a year ago, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando, and John Ceniza donned the tricolors in the quadrennial meet where they fell short in their respective weight divisions which denied the Philippines its third consecutive medal production in the said sport after back-to-back wins by Diaz in Rio and Tokyo editions.