NAGOYA, Japan — Albert Ian Delos Santos won a bronze medal in his Asian Games weightlifting debut Saturday while setting a new junior world record in the men’s 70-kilogram final at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Delos Santos broke his own junior world record twice in his final two clean and jerk attempts, lifting 181 and 183 kilograms for a 324kg total at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center.
His 183kg clean and jerk and 324kg total also set new junior Asian records.
The 20-year-old Filipino, the youngest lifter in his division, lifted 138kg and 141kg in his first two snatch attempts before missing his final 143kg attempt.
He returned in the clean and jerk with a successful 178kg lift before surpassing the junior world record he set last August.
“Pressure now off my back. So happy. Days before nakita ko na mga kalaban ko sa entry list and I told myself that this won’t be easy. I’m relieved, my training has been good although there were many bumps on the road, I’m just happy to pull this off,” Delos Santos said.
He also said a knee injury before the competition added to the pressure.
“Leading to this competition, I suffered a knee injury so grabe ang pressure,” he said.
Delos Santos served as one of the Philippines’ flag bearers during the opening ceremony and dedicated his medal to his late father.
His mother and coach, Diwa, accompanied him in Nagoya along with Julius Naranjo, husband of his mentor and Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz.
North Korea’s Ri Won Ju won the gold medal with a 349kg total after setting a world record with a 198kg clean and jerk.
Japan’s Masanori Miyamoto took silver with 342kg. He set world, Asian Games and Asian records with a 154kg snatch but missed his final 193kg clean and jerk attempt.
Delos Santos delivered the Philippines’ first weightlifting medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
Elreen Ando finished fifth in the women’s 61kg division, while Rosegie Ramos placed fourth in the women’s 53kg class.
Eleaphraime Limmong failed to complete a lift in the men’s 60kg final after missing all three of his snatch attempts.