Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo is set to make her highly anticipated return to the Southeast Asian Games, leading a formidable nine-member Philippine weightlifting contingent to Thailand next month.
Full Philippine Weightlifting Roster Revealed
The national team features a mix of seasoned Olympians and promising newcomers. Diaz-Naranjo, who made history by winning the country's first-ever Olympic gold medal in the 55kg category at the Tokyo Games, will now compete in the 58kg division.
She is joined by a strong lineup of athletes across various weight classes:
- Rosegie Ramos (Women's 48kg)
- Jhodie Peralta (Women's 53kg)
- Elreen Ann Ando (Women's 63kg)
- Kristel Macrohon (Women's 69kg)
- Fernando Agad Jr. (Men's 60kg)
- Dave Lloyd Pacaldo (Men's 65kg)
- Albert Ian Delos Santos (Men's 71kg)
- John Dexter Tabique (Men's 94kg)
Proven Champions and Rising Stars
Diaz-Naranjo brings an impressive SEA Games record, having secured back-to-back gold medals when the tournament was held in the Philippines in 2019 and in Vietnam in 2021. She strategically skipped the 2023 Cambodia edition to concentrate on qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The team's depth is evident with multiple medalists from recent international competitions. Jhodie Peralta showcased her potential by capturing two medals at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain last month - a gold in the snatch and a bronze in the clean and jerk.
Two-time Olympian Elreen Ann Ando demonstrated world-class form by winning a bronze medal at the prestigious 2025 IWF World Championships in Forde, Norway.
Kristel Macrohon, a former SEA Games gold medalist from 2019, continued her strong performance by earning three bronze medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Zhejiang, China last May, with a total lift of 236 kg.
Newcomer's Dream and Record-Breaking Performance
Albert Ian Delos Santos, making his SEA Games debut, expressed strong optimism about his chances. "It's a dream to win the gold medal in the SEA Games. I will do my best to make it happen," said the second-year financial management student from Universidad de Zamboanga.
Despite finishing eighth in the men's 71kg category at the World Youth and Junior Championships in Norway last October 6, Delos Santos made headlines by setting a world junior record of 185kg in the clean and jerk on his third attempt.
The Philippine weightlifting team has demonstrated consistent success in recent years, with athletes securing seven silver medals at the Asian Championships - three each from Ando and Ramos, and one from Agad.
The 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand will run from December 9 to December 22, providing another platform for Philippine athletes to showcase the country's growing prowess in international weightlifting competitions.
