Weightlifter wins 2 golds in Asian tilt
Vanessa Sarno could become the next big thing in weightli ing.
She proved this by winning two gold and one silver medals in the women’s 71kg category in the Asian Weightli ing Championship Wednesday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The former Asian juniors champion ruled the total and the clean and jerk events while finishing second in the snatch.
The 17-year-old pride of Tagbilaran in Bohol li ed 128kgs in the clean and jerk and carried 101kgs in the snatch, which gave her an overall score of 229kgs to somehow emerge from the shadow of her illustrious teammate in Hidilyn Diaz.
Diaz wound up only fourth in the 55kg division but booked a ticket to the Tokyo Games on account of her impressive showing in previous tournaments.
Prior to the event, Samahang Weightli ing ng Pilipinas (SWP) President Monico Puentevella said that Sarno is the heir to the throne of Diaz – already a threetime Olympian.
Sarno won in the Asian Juniors two years ago and bagged three gold medals during last year’s International Weightli ing Federation (IWF) Online World Youth Championship.
“Vanessa is Hidi’s successor,” said Puentevella.
“She is now world and Asian junior’s champion. She joined the Asian Championship… her first. Got two gold medals. She’s ready for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and (with proper guidance) she will qualify for Paris Olympics in 2024.”
The Philippines now has two gold, six silver and three bronze medals in the event.
Mary Flor Diaz won three silvers in the women’s 45kg, Elreen Ando contributing two silvers and a bronze, while John Fabuar Ceniza added a bronze in the men’s 61kg division.