Albert Ian delos Santos of the Philippines celebrates during the men's 71kg class of weightlifting at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 14, 2025 at the Chonburi Sports School in Chonburi, Thailand. POC Media
MANILA – Albert Ian Delos Santos and Alexsandra Ann Diaz banner the 13-athlete strong Philippine team competing at the 2026 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan next month.
Delos Santos ruled the 71kg division and set a new world record in clean and jerk at the IWF Junior World Championships in Egypt last May.
Diaz, the niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn, brought home three golds and broke two new world records (clean and jerk and total) in the girls' 48kg class at the IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championships in Cali, Colombia earlier this month.
The 19-year-old Delos Santos will compete in the juniors 70kg division, one kilogram lighter than his previous tournament.
Diaz will be representing the flag in both the youth and juniors 49kg division, a weight class she previously competed in at home.
The 15-year-old Filipina weightlifter hopes she can carry the momentum from her golden performance in Colombia to Uzbekistan.
"Yung 49 [kilogram] po medyo malapit lang naman po yung body weight. Parang katawan ko sa 49 talaga. Pero kailangan parin po mag-training tuloy tuloy," she told ABS-CBN News in an interview on Saturday.
"Gawin ko lang yung best ko. Kasi malapit po yung laro tapos yung katawan hindi pa nag-rerecover. Yes po kaya naman po. Sobrang saya po na ang dami po [namin]. Enjoy lang and support kami," Diaz added.
READ: Alexsandra Diaz hopes to be an Olympian like tita Hidilyn
IWF Worlds silver medalist Jhodie Peralta will be competing for the Philippines anew in the 53kg class for both youth and junior categories.
"Sa ngayon po medyo palang [yung kumpiyansa] kasi nag-rerecover palang ako galing sa laro. Gagawin ko lang po best ko tapos sana magka-medal," she said.
"Sobrang laki po [na bagay mag-represent sa Philippines] kasi dati-dati pangarap ko lang maka-represent ng bansa. Dati po, nanonood lang ako ng laro nila. Tapos ngayon nakalaro na po ako. Sobrang thankful po [ako]," Peralta added.
The 17-year-old said she always keeps in mind Hidilyn's advice to stay focused and believe in herself whenever she steps out to represent the Philippines.
For coach Allen Diaz, he's hopeful Alexsandra and Jhodie can regain their strength so they can bring glory again to the country.
Diaz has adjusted their training hours to match the time in Uzbekistan, so Alexsandra and Jhodie will not have a hard time when they fly out to Tashkent.
"May chance naman, andun parin. Sana bumalik lang yung lakas ng katawan kasi alam niyo naman yung laro niya, pagkatapos competition ulit. Mahirap lang talaga yung conditioning," he told ABS-CBN News.
"Sana po palarin tayo sa laro ma'am. Bigay lang nila yung best nila sa laro. Pray lang," Diaz added.
IWF Worlds silver and bronze medalist Althea Bacaro will be competing in the women's 45kg youth division, alongside Rhianne Cabalida (women's 69kg), Jea Mae Palagtiw (women's 77kg), Jay-R Colonia (men's 55kg), Kirby Kent Alas-as (men's 60kg) and Jerick Icon Castro (men's 60kg).
Also competing in the juniors division are Angeline Colonia (women's 49kg), Rosalinda Faustino (women's 57kg), Prince Keil Delos Santos (men's 60kg) and Mango Prince David Tarro (men's 65kg).
Earlier this month, the Philippines brought home 16 medals from the IWF Worlds in Cali, Colombia.
READ: Diaz sets 2 new youth world records at IWF competition in Colombia
Diaz won three golds, Colonia had one gold and two silvers, Peralta and Palagtiw clinched two silvers each, Bacaro captured a silver and bronze, Cabalida took home two silvers and a bronze, while Alas-as clinched silver.
The Philippine team is set to leave for the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships on August 3, as the tournament is scheduled from August 7 to 14 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
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