PHILIPPINE weightlifters added 16 more medals, including eight golds, to their haul at the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Saturday night.

Leading the country’s medal surge was 15-year-old Zamboanga City lifter Alexsandra Ann Diaz, who dominated the Youth women’s 49-kilogram division with three gold medals.

Diaz registered 77 kilograms in the snatch and 92 kilograms in the clean and jerk for a 169-kilogram total, sweeping all three golds in her division.

The young lifter, who is the niece of Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, also collected two bronze medals in the Junior competition, placing third in the snatch with 77 kilograms and in the total with 169 kilograms.

Another standout was Jerick Icon Castro, who also completed a three-gold sweep in the Youth men’s 60-kg category.

Castro lifted 116 kg in the snatch and 144 kg in the clean and jerk, producing a combined total of 260 kg. His clean and jerk effort established a new Asian Youth record.

Teammate Kirby Kent Alas-as, competing in the same Youth men’s 60-kg division, added two bronze medals after lifting 110 kg in the snatch and posting a 243-kg total.

In the Junior events, Prince Keil Delos Santos captured gold in the men’s 60-kg snatch with a 120-kg lift. He also earned bronze medals in the clean and jerk at 144 kg and in the overall total at 264 kg.

Angeline Colonia likewise delivered three medals in the Junior women’s 49-kg division, winning gold in the snatch with 80 kg and silver medals in both the clean and jerk at 93 kg and the total at 173 kg.

With the latest results, the Philippine delegation has accumulated 21 medals — 10 golds, four silvers and nine bronzes — after two days of competition.

Earlier on Friday, Althea Bacaro won two gold medals in the Youth women’s 45-kg division, while Jay-r Colonia contributed two silver medals and one bronze in the Youth men’s 56-kg category.

The strong showing in Tashkent puts the young Filipino lifters among the leading medal performers as the championships continue.