Colonia bags 2 golds, 1 silver medal in Asian Youth tourney in Tashkent

ANGELINE COLONIA bagged two golds and one silver medal to open the Philippine campaign in record style in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships at the Uzbekistan Sports Complex in Tashkent over the weekend.

The 16-year-old Colonia, a firsttimer in overseas competitions, topped the women’s 40 kgs category with her gold medal lift of 62 kgs in the snatch, a silver with 72 kgs in clean and jerk and a gold for her total lift of 134 kgs.

That 62-kg lift in snatch broke the 2018 world standard record by 1 kg.

There were four other competitors in the weight class of the youngest sister of Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympian Nestor Colonia.

“I just wanted to break the record, that’s all. I never thought I would win two golds because it’s my first time in an international event,” said Colonia, the rising star from Pasabolong in the same native Zamboanga City of Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.

“It really feels so good to win, I am happy right now,” added Colonia, who is coached by his uncle, Seoul 1988 Olympian Gregorio Colonia. The grade 11 student at the Culianan National High School joined the national team only last March.

Vietnam’s Duong Thi Kim Yen won gold in the clean and jerk with 73 kgs, but finished second with a total lift of 129 kgs. India’s Kishor Akahksha Vyavhare bagged the bronze with a total lift of 125 kgs (55 kgs snatch and 70 kgs clean and jerk).

Prince Keil de los Santos clinched two bronze medals in the men’s 49 kgs category with his 103 kgs effort in the clean and jerk and 186 kgs in total lift. He did a fourth-placed 83 kgs in snatch.

Vietnamese Bui Minh Dao won gold medal in the clean and jerk with 111 kgs and total lift with 196 kgs.

The competition ends on July 25 with the Philippines pinning its hopes on more medals on Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Vanessa Sarno (women 71 kgs), World Youth champion Rose Jean Ramos (women 45 kgs), Rosegie Ramos (junior women 49 kgs), Giselle Anne Betua (junior women 55 kgs), Joefry Frasco (junior men 55kgs), John Raphael Macato (junior men 67 kgs), Rosalinda Faustino (youth women 49 kgs), Kiesha Mae Felisilda (youth women 55 kgs), Adrian Cristobal (youth men 61 kgs), Christian Rodriguez (youth men 67 kgs) and Jun Dominic Bohol (youth men 55 kgs).

They are accompanied by coaches Allen Diaz, Christopher Bureros, Samuel Alegada and Edmundo Jose Cardan.

The youth category covers 13 to 17 years old lifters and the junior class 15 to 20 years old.