By MARK REY MONTEJO
Rising star Jay R Colonia made a big impression after winning two gold medals in the ongoing 2025 IWF World Youth & Junior Championships in Lima, Peru Wednesday, April 30.
Colonia, 16, flexed his might and totaled 215 kilos off 94-kilogram lift in snatch, while 121kg in clean and jerk to reign in the men’s 49kg division of the week-long global competition for the up-and-coming weightlifting stars.
Italian Christian Di Maria (214) was a point behind Colonia and settled for silver, while Indian Sahu Harshabardhan (197) captured bronze.
In a separate event for cleanand jerk, Colonia bagged his second gold, after compiling 121 points in three attempts. Di Maria and Harsabardhan also settled for the second and third honors, respectively.
While in snatch, Colonia copped silver after losing to Di Maria (99)
Althea Bacaro also turned heads in the women’s 40kg, snaring three medals in total (silver), snatch (gold), and clean & jerk (bronze).
Meanwhile, Angeline Colonia, sister of Rio Olympian Nestor, also produced a bronze in total and silver in snatch in the women’s 45kg class.
Prince Delos Santos came up short for the podium of the men’s 55kg, winding up fourth with 243 points. Japan’s Kotaro Tomari (266), Vietnam’s K Duong (257), and China’s Weiqiang Zjang (247) took home the gold, silver, and bronze medals, respectively.
