The vaunted Philippine youth brigade unveiled an early show of might as Angeline Colonia struck two gold medals in record-breaking fashion in the 40kg category of the Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday night in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The 15-year-old Zamboangena bagged the gold in the snatch with a lift of 62kgs, breaking the old Asian and World record of 61kgs set in November 2018. Colonia also took the silver in the clean and jerk with a 72-kg performance for a total of 134 kilograms, which was good for the gold medal.
It was an amazing performance by the Grade 11 student from Culianan National High School in Zamboanga City even as she was playing in her first international tournament.
Colonia comes from a family with a high pedigree in weightlifting.
Colonia started only training seriously last March under her uncle, 1988 Seoul Olympian Gregorio Colonia.
Duong Thi Kim Yen took the gold in the clean and jerk with her lift of 73kgs. She could only do 56kgs in the snatch and failed in two tries to lift heavier metals, settling for the silver medal overall.
Taking the bronze for total metals lifted was Kishor Akahksha Vyavhare of Inda with her 125kgs (55kgs in snatch and 70kgs in clean and jerk).
Colonia, a Grade 11 student from Culianan National High School in Zamboanga City, became a member of the national team only last March. She is youngest sister of 2016 Rio Olympics veteran Nestor Colonia.
Another Philippine bet Prince Keil de Los Santos took a podium finish after bagging two bronze medals in the Youth men’s 49-kg category by placing third in the clean and jerk with a lift of 103kgs. His 83kgs in the snatch was only good for fourth place, but it was enough to put him in third place overall.
Also competing in the tournament that gathered the best Youth weightlifters aged 13-17 years old and Juniors aged 15-20 years old, are reigning Asian champion Vanessa Sarno and World youth champion Rose Jean Ramos.
Sarno, who also topped the women’s 71-kg category as a senior campaigner in the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games, will compete in the same Junior category, while Ramos takes part in the Junior women’s 45kgs.