Filipina teen weightlifter wins 2 gold medals in North Korea tourney

Admin Oktubre 28, 2019

Young Filipino athletes continue to bring honor to the country with a recent gold medal haul from 16-year-old weightlifter Vanessa Sarno in the 2019 Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships held in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Sarno, according to a report, won the gold medal in the 71-kilogram women’s category for lifting 209 kilograms. The weightlifter from the host country, Ju Hyang U, was the closest contender to Sarno after lifting 204 kilograms in the said division.

The national athlete from Bohol did not stop there as she doubled her gold medal haul when she topped the 91 kilogram in the snatch event.

It was also reported that Sarno tried to go for a triple gold finish in the clean and jerk but she failed to lift 11 kilogram in the 91-kg category. She ended up getting the silver over North Korea’s Ju.

Two other Filipino weightlifter added three more medals to the Philippines’ medal tally as Chariz Macawli claimed a silver medal in the 40-kg by lifting 116 kilogram and 66 kilogram in the clean and jerk and a bronze medal after posting a 50 kg total in snatch. Rosegie Ramos also bagged a bronze medal for the country in the 49-kg class with 76 kilogram lift in snatch.

With the successful showing of the Filipino weightlifters in the international arena, there’s one person who feels elated upon hearing the news. Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz said she is happy and hopeful with the results.

“Of course masaya kasi napapansin na ngayon ‘yung sports ng weightlifting. Nakakatuwa na maraming mga young athletes ang umaangat na ‘yung laro, ang hopefully mas marami pa ang dumating,” Diaz expressed in a Manila Bulletin report.

[Of course, I am happy that the sports is now gaining attention. It’s good that more and more athletes are improving and hopefully there would be more athletes to join the sports.]