MANILA – Two-time Olympian Elreen Ando and IWF Junior World Championships gold medalist Albert Ian Delos Santos banner the Philippine weightlifting team at the 20th Asian Games next month.
Ando will be making her third appearance at the Asiad, after clinching bronze in the 2022 edition in Hangzou, China.
The two-time Olympian is coming off a gold medal in the women's 63kg category at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games last December and silver at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in May last year.
In this year's Asiad, Ando will be competing in the women's 61kg category, which will also be her same weight class in the Olympic qualifying tournaments.
READ: Why last Asian Junior Championships gold is sweeter for Albert Ian Delos Santos
"Yun din yung tinatarget ko, parang yung momentum ko sana tuloy-tuloy po. Sana makuha namin yung gold medal kasi yan yung pinapangarap namin na mag-medal kami lahat sa Asian Games po," Ando told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview on Saturday at the Hidilyn Diaz Weightlifting Gym in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
"Ganun pa rin po [paghahanda] ma'am. Kumbaga po, sa timbang po, galing ako 63 [kg], tapos bumaba ako ng 61 [kg]. Parang sinasanay ko lang yung sarili ko, ma'am, na early ko siya binaba para ma-adapt ko yung weight ko po," she added.
Ando chose to skip the Asian Weightlifting Championships last May to focus on recovery and preparation for the Asian Games, World Championships and the Olympic qualifying tournaments later this year.
With the Asiad fast approaching, Ando said she is staying focused and disciplined, as she expects tough competition from familiar foes especially from China and Korea.
"Nagdo-double time pa kami sa training namin. Kasi alam namin na yung training namin hindi pa talaga siya 100% na buong-buo na. Kailangan pa talaga siya na kung ano yung mga kulang namin na idagdag-idagdag namin for Asian Games," she said.
"Kasi yung mga kalaban namin doon, mabibigat din po. For Asian country po, doon po yung mahirap din po. Kasi sa timbang ko rin po, nandun yung Olympic champion. Yung history din ng Olympic champion din dati," Ando pointed out.
Joining Ando in the women's division are 2025 Asian Championships silver medalist Rosegie Ramos (53kg) and 2025 SEA Games bronze medalist Kristel Macrohon (69kg).
READ: How weightlifter Albert Ian Delos Santos turned grief into gold
Ramos is looking to bounce back in this weight division, after not bringing home a medal during the women's 49kg class at the SEA Games last December.
"Ngayon na umakyat ako [ng timbang], mas nakaka-challenge naman ma'am. Tsaka tingin ko naman para sa akin tong 53 [kilogram] na 'to. At mas komportable din po," Ramos told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview.
"At the same time, naiisip ko po, sayang kasi hindi ko nakuha. Pero babalik pa rin ako, nangyari na yun eh. So kailangan ko na mag-move on, tapos mag-improve, tapos mas mag-training pa po... Mag-improve po muna, ma'am. Mag-improve. Tapos yung medal, andyan lang naman po eh. Kapag lumakas ka po eh. Yun lang naman po," she said of her goals.
On the men's side, Delos Santos will be representing the country in the 70kg category and Ifugao native Eleaphraime Limmong in the men's 60kg class.
The 20-year-old is coming off a silver medal at the 33rd SEA Games, as well as golds and world records at the IWF Junior World Championships and Asian Championships.
Despite these achievements, Delos Santos is staying humble and driven ahead of his first appearance at the continental showcase.
"I don't want to get pressured. I just want to have that feeling of having fun. But at the same time, there would be times na oh, this is important. This is big. This is bigger than SEA Games," he told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview.
READ: SEAG: Elreen Ando claims PH's first gold in weightlifting
For Delos Santos, he credits his recent achievements to his team led by coach Julius Naranjo and his mother Diwa Delos Santos.
"I have Coach Jules, I have my PT, ate Haidie, my mother, especially my mother. And throughout, with the help of SWP as well, it's been great, and that mom and coach were able to nurture what I needed, my weaknesses, and the things I needed to adjust bilang athlete. It's just the process has been so, been working for me so good talaga" Delos Santos said.
"Ever since two years ago, after I lost my first ever Junior World Championship and having my father trust coach Julius to take me under his wing, ever since then, the improvements haven't stopped," he shared.
The Filipino weightlifters are looking to end the country's Asiad gold medal drought in the sport, since Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo was the last to win the top prize at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
"It's a good goal, especially with that drought. Ngayon ko lang na-fathom na konti lang talaga medals. I'd like to a win a medal, it'd be so nice talaga. Overall, ang gusto ko lang doon is to have fun and improve, PR-wise and mental-wise. And everything that comes along with it is just a bonus, really. And I hope I do well," Delos Santos added.
READ: 2-time Olympian Elreen Ando clinches bronze at IWF World Championships
Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella is optimistic seeing the recent achievements of the country's weightlifters.
"I'm very optimistic of this group. Pero yung sabihin mo na magkaroon ng medalya, only God can do the rest. But lately, I've been very happy or optimistic because we have a lot of materials now," he told ABS-CBN News.
"When I started more than 20 years ago, I only had Hidilyn [Diaz], Nestor Colonia, and some kids. But itong grupo na ito ngayon in weightlifting, I'm not talking only about the Asian Games. This is the biggest bunch of inspired guys, kids I've ever had," Puentevella added.
Weightlifting at the 20th Asian Games is scheduled for September 23 to 29 at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center.