Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo to spearhead PH weightlifting team at SEA Games 2025

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo will lead a nine-member Philippine weightlifting team in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games 2025 in Thailand.

Diaz-Naranjo, 34, will compete in the -58kg class, aiming for a third SEA Games gold medal after winning in the 55kg division in 2019 and 2022.

This marks her return to the SEA Games after missing the 2023 edition to focus on Olympic qualifying events, though she did not qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Other notable athletes in the women's squad include Rosegie Ramos (-48kg), Jhodie Peralta (-53kg), Elreen Ando (-63kg), and Kristel Macrohon (-69kg).

Ando and Peralta are entering the games with confidence after recent international successes, with Peralta winning at the Asian Youth Games and Ando securing medals at the IWF World Championships and Asian Weightlifting Championships.

Macrohon also won multiple bronze medals at the Asian Weightlifting Championships.

The men's team includes Fernando Agad Jr. (60kg), Dave Pacaldo (65kg), Albert Delos Santos (71kg), and John Dexter Tabique (94kg).