27/09/2026
Albert Ian Delos Santos is no longer just a prospect. He is history.
The 20-year-old flag bearer gave the Philippines its first Asian Games medal in men's weightlifting in 56 years, winning bronze in the men's 70kg class at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 at the Nagoya City Trade and Industry Center on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Delos Santos had to fight for it. He went 141kg in sn**ch, then came from behind in the clean & jerk. With Uzbekistan's Adkhamjon Ergashev sitting third after a 142kg sn**ch, Delos Santos hit 178kg and 181kg on his first two clean & jerk attempts to steal the podium spot. Ergashev failed twice at 180kg and 181kg, sealing the bronze for the Filipino.
He wasn't done. On his final attempt, Delos Santos locked out 183kg for a total of 324kg a lift that set new World Junior and Asian Junior records.
It ends a drought that stretched back to the 1970 Bangkok Games, when Salvador Del Rosario won silver in the 52kg division.
Gold went to North Korea's Ri Won Ju with a world record 349kg total, silver to Japan's Masanori Miyamoto with 342kg.
56 years. First Asiad. One bronze that feels like gold.
