MANILA – Zamboanga City lifters Princess Jay Ann Diaz and Jay-r Colonia contributed to the Philippines’ medal haul at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain Sunday.
Diaz, the 17-year-old niece of Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, lifted 78 kilograms (kg) to settle for the bronze medal in the clean and jerk of the girls’ 44kg category.
India’s Bhoi Priteesmita won with a world youth record lift of 92kg, while China’s Wu Jihong (88kg) placed second.
In the boys’ 56kg division, Colonia (137kg) also finished third in the clean and jerk behind China’s Jiang Jinfu, who registered a new Asian youth record of 141kg, and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ojaian M Mohammed Nawaf (138kg).
Colonia, also 17, clinched two gold medals (clean and jerk and overall) in group A of the men’s youth 49-kilogram class of the International Weightlifting Federation World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru in May.
Meanwhile, boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido defeated Binul Dulnada Dewasiri Narayana of Sri Lanka in the boys’ light flyweight quarterfinals to assure himself of at least a bronze medal.
Shairylle Pores failed to advance after losing to Chen Fang-yu of Chinese Taipei, 0-5, in the girls’ 46kg class.
Alas Pilipinas defeated Chinese Taipei, 25-16, 20-25, 25-16, 25-18, to reach the girls’ volleyball semifinal round.
In table tennis, John Marin and Jannaj Alarcon swept Mongolia’s Turmunkh Dugersuren and Enkhjin Tuvshinbayar, 11-7, 12-10, 11-3, in the mixed doubles round of 64; but other Filipino bets lost in the individual events — Marin to Hong Kong’s Man William, 10-12, 9-11, 11-13; Emmanuel Paculba to Iran’s Mobin Amiri, 11-5, 8-11, 12-14, 9-11; and Jacob Quindo to China’s Tang Yiren, 6-11, 4-11, 5-11.
Bets in the girls’ division likewise bowed out — Joanna Esguerra suffered a 6-11, 5-11, 4-11 loss to Hong Kong’s Mak Ming; Zuri Chua bowed to Hong Kong’s Su Tsz Tung, 1-11, 3-11, 2-11; and Jannj Alarcon surrendered to Singapore’s Loy Ming, 3-11, 5-11, 2-11.
In taekwondo, Matt Rejhan Lavestre (boys’ -55kg), Chuck Aeron Alariao (boys’ -63kg) and Ej Gaa (girls’ -63kg) lost in the quarterfinals. (PNA)
