Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo (Contributed photo)
Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo spearheads the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) national training pool for 2025.
Among the notable athletes in the pool is Olympian Elreen Ann Ando, who captured gold at the 2023 SEA Games. Also included in the roster are Angeline Colonia and Lovely Inan, each earning accolades at the 2024 IWF World Junior Championships in Leon, Spain—Colonia with two gold medals and Inan with a pair of golds plus a silver.
The women’s team boasts an extensive lineup that includes siblings Rosegie and Rose Jean Ramos, Rosalinda Faustino, Kristel Macrohon, Jhodie Peralta, Alexandra 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.
At the 2023 Asian Youth and Junior Championships in India, junior lifters Rosegie Ramos and Jhodie Peralta each secured three gold medals. Rose Jean Ramos (Junior) added one gold and two silvers to her collection, while youth competitor Rosalinda Faustino took home two silvers and a bronze.
On the men’s side, Aldrin Colonia and Prince Keil Delos Santos also distinguished themselves at the 2024 Asian Youth and Junior Championships in Qatar. Colonia earned two golds and one silver in the Youth category, whereas Delos Santos notched three silvers in Youth and three bronzes in the Junior division.
The men’s training pool is rounded out by talents including 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.
Looking ahead, the SWP National Open 5-in-1 is set to take place in Dumaguete City this May. It will serve as the selection event for the team that will compete at the SEA Games in Thailand this December.
Additionally, the Philippines will be represented at several upcoming international competitions, including the IWF World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru (April 30–May 5), the SEAWF Championships in Singapore (June 13–15), the IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway (October 3–12), and the Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain (October 22–31).
