The Philippines is sending a promising mix of record holders, world championship medalists, and rising young talents as a 13-athlete delegation prepares to compete in the 2026 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Leading the national team are Albert Ian Delos Santos and Alexsandra Ann Diaz, two young lifters who recently made headlines on the international stage with record-breaking performances.
Delos Santos enters the competition with momentum after ruling the 71kg division at the IWF Junior World Championship in Egypt last May, where he also established a new world record in the clean and jerk. For the upcoming Asian meet, he will move down to the juniors 70kg category as he looks to continue building on his breakthrough season.
Diaz, meanwhile, will carry the confidence of a dominant showing at the IWF World Youth Weightlifting Championship in Cali, Cambodia, where she captured three gold medals and broke two world records in the girls’ 48kg division.
The niece of Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz will compete in both the youth and junior 49kg divisions in Tashkent, a category where she has already gained valuable experience competing domestically. The 15-year-old hopes to bring the same form that powered her golden campaign in Colombia.
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Fourteen-year-old Alexsandra Ann Diaz, the niece of Philippine Olympic champion @diaz_hidilyn, delivered one of the country’s biggest performances on the international youth stage after sweeping three gold medals and setting two youth world records at the 2026 IWF World Youth… pic.twitter.com/vKkrKqwwKr
— Peanut Gallery Media Network (@PGMNOfficial) July 7, 2026
Another major contender for the Philippines is Jhodie Peralta, who returns to international competition in the 53kg youth and junior divisions after winning silver at the IWF World Championships.
The 17-year-old continues to draw inspiration from the guidance of Hidilyn Diaz, keeping her advice in mind whenever she steps onto the platform wearing the Philippine colors.
For national coach Allen Diaz, the focus now is on making sure the athletes are physically and mentally ready for another demanding international challenge.
Diaz has adjusted the training schedule of Alexsandra and Jhodie to match Uzbekistan’s time zone, aiming to help the young lifters transition smoothly once they arrive in Tashkent.
The Philippine delegation also features several medal-winning athletes from previous international competitions, including IWF World Championship silver and bronze medalist Althea Bacaro, who will compete in the women’s 45kg youth division.
Joining Bacaro in the youth category are Rhianne Cabalida in the women’s 69kg division, Jea Mae Palagtiw in the women’s 77kg class, Jay-R Colonia in men’s 55kg, Kirby Kent Alas-as in men’s 60kg, and Jerick Icon Castro in men’s 60kg.
The junior division will feature 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).
The coaching staff composed of Gregorio Colonia, Patrick Cielo Lee, Allen Jayfrus Diaz, Diwa Delos Santos, and Kelle Kay Rojas will oversee the national team’s campaign.
The Philippine delegation heads to Tashkent on Aug. 3 ahead of the tournament scheduled from Aug. 7 to 14.
The team enters the competition with confidence after producing a strong performance at the IWF World Championships in Cali, Colombia earlier this month wherein the Philippines collected 16 medals.
With a roster built around proven performers and emerging stars, the Philippines hopes to turn its recent international success into another medal-rich campaign on the Asian stage.
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