The Philippine weightlifting team, led by world gold medalist Jhodie Peralta, arrived in Bahrain where they will look to contribute to the country's medal tally in the 3rd Asian Youth Games.
Joining Peralta in the six-man team are fellow gold winners Jay-R Colonia and Alessandra Ann Diaz, Dave Pacaldo, Jerick Castro, and Princess Jay Ann Diaz. They are accompanied by coaches Kelle Kay Rojas, Patrick Lee, Gregorio Colonia, and Allen Jayfrus Diaz.
Action in weightlifting starts on Sunday at Hall 3 of the Exhibition World Bahrain.
The Filipinos are coming off a successful campaign in the IWF World Youth and Junior Championships in Lima, Peru middle of this year where they bagged 10 gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.
The 16-year-old Peralta, from Zamboanga City, led the Philippine charge during the campaign, scooping three golds in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total in the women's youth 55 kg class.
Jay-R, son of Olympian Nestor Colonia, delivered two golds in the men's youth 49 kg, while Diaz, niece of Philippines' first ever Olympic gold medal winner Hidilyn Diaz, also had a pair of gold in the women's youth 45 kg event.
Their feat allowed the Philippines to finish no. 1 in the Youth category of the 33-nation tournament.
Now the team is looking to translate the same success it had in this year's edition of the AYG.
The Filipinos have yet to achieve a podium finish in the meet featuring athletes 14-17 years old.
Meanwhile, teams from pencak silat, kurash, and teqball already returned to the country after accounting for two of the Philippine delegation's four medals won so far.
Pesilat Kram Airam Carpio bagged the gold in the girls' 51-55 kg class of pencak silat, while the duo of Crystal Carino and Nicole Tabucol provided a surprise bronze in the girls' doubles division of teqball.