Aldrin Colonia, a 17-year-old prospect who comes from a lineage of Olympians, captured the youth men’s 49-kilogram weightlifting title at the 2024 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Doha, Qatar.

His victory, with a total lift of 213kg, outperformed Vietnam’s Bui Minh Dao (204kg) and India’s Babulal Hembron (197kg), marking a dominant performance for the Philippines.

Colonia’s achievement continues a family tradition in weightlifting excellence. His uncle Gregorio competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and his cousin Nestor represented the Philippines in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. Colonia secured his gold medal with a snatch of 95kg on his second attempt and a clean and jerk of 118kg on his first lift.

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Women’s silver

Vietnam’s Bui earned silver with lifts of 90kg and 114kg, while India’s Hembron rounded out the podium with 88kg and 109kg lifts.

The Philippines added to their medal tally through Prince Kiel Delos Santos, who earned silver in the youth men’s 55kg division and bronze in the junior category of the same weight class. Delos Santos totaled 242kg with lifts of 110kg in the snatch and 132kg in the clean and jerk.

On the women’s side, Angeline Colonia, Aldrin’s relative, secured silver in the junior 45kg division with a total lift of 157kg.