ROSE JEAN RAMOS took the first significant step towards earning a ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics after picking up a bronze medal in the IWF World Championships at the Ningbo Olympic Center in China on Tuesday.
The 20-year-old Asian Championship silver winner and World Youth champion pocketed the snatch bronze with an 86-kilogram (kg) lift in the women’s 49-kg class, behind eventual gold and silver medalists Ri Song Gum of North Korea and Zhao Jinhong of China, both world champions.
The 29-year-old Ms. Ri, who won both the Worlds and Asian Games thrice, swept all three golds in total (211 kg), snatch (92 kg) and clean jerk (119 kg) while the 25-year-old Ms. Zhao grabbed all three silvers with a total lift of 207 kg from 91 kg in snatch and 116 kg in clean and jerk.
Ms. Ramos, whose campaign is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission, was fifth in total lift with a 181 kg.
The effort earned Ms. Ramos ranking points to have an opportunity at claiming a spot to LA where she hopes to shoot for the gold the way her fellow Zamboanga City native, Hidilyn Diaz, did in Tokyo five years ago.
Elreen Ando, who will see action in the women’s 61 kg, is also eyeing a spot in LA, which would be her third Olympic stint should she end up advancing.
Also shooting for the stars are Ms. Ramos’ sister Rosegie (53 kg), Albert Ian Delos Santos (men’s 70 kg) and Kristel Macrohon (women’s 69 kg). — Joey Villar