ROSE Jean Ramos successfully defended the women’s 45kg title on Sunday (Monday in Manila) at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships at the Domo de la Feria in Leon City, Guanajuato, Mexico.

Ramos, who hails from Zamboanga City, won two gold medals coming from the clean and jerk (85kgs) and total (155kgs) and the silver medal in the snatch (70kgs).

Kerlys Montilla of Venezuela finished second with a total lift of 153kgs. She bagged the gold medal in the snatch (71kg) but only managed a bronze medal in the clean and jerk (82kg) after her second (84kg) and third attempts (86kg) were declared bad lifts.

Soumya Sunil Dalvi of India placed third with a total lift of 148kgs. She was ranked fifth in the snatch (65kg) but submitted the second-best lift of 83kg in the clean and jerk.

Rosalliz Santana of Dominican Republic claimed the bronze medal in the snatch (68kg) but she failed in all three attempts at 77kg in the clean and jerk.

“I am very, very happy. I did not expect to win,” the 17-year-old Ramos told The Manila Times over the phone after her doping test.

Her attempts at 68kg (first) and 68kg (second) in the snatch were all good lifts, while her first (80kg) and second (82kg) lifts in the clean and jerk were also successful.

“I came here prepared but my opponents look stronger than me, so I just prayed,” added the Grade 10 student at Mampang National High School. She became a member of the national training pool in 2018.

Ramos was crowned champion in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia last year after winning the gold medal in the snatch (67kgs), the silver medal in the clean and jerk (80kgs), and the gold medal in total (147kgs).

Coach Allen Jayfrus Diaz praised Ramos, who has never stopped training since her victory in

Saudi Arabia.

“I thought she’s going to lose because her opponents are very strong. But I told her to just do what she did during our training. After all the hard work, she deserved to win,” said Diaz, 36, a former national lifter before he became coach. He has been training Ramos for the past six years.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella presented the medals to Ramos during the awarding ceremony.

“To God be the glory. We’re on a roll. Two golds and one silver in a world youth championship here in Mexico. Thanks to coach Allen Diaz, Philippine Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation and everyone in SWP. Here we come Paris 2024. We’re beating the best in the world. We can do it. Mabuhay ang Filipino,” said Puentevella, who also served as president of the Asian Weightlifting Federation from 2009-2013.

In 2020, Ramos captured the gold medal in snatch and the silver medal in total during the International Weightlifting Federation Youth Online World Cup hosted by Peru.

She will be joining Vietnam SEAG champion Vanessa Sarno in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships next month.

The SWP is still finalizing the lineup for the tournament slated July 15 to 25 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

“I will try my best to win again and give honor to my country again,” said Ramos, who will return to the Philippines on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).