By REYNALD MAGALLON
Vanessa Sarno, trumpeted as the heir apparent to Hidilyn Diaz’s throne, further galvanized her status by winning three golds in the women’s minus-71kg in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championship on Friday (Manila time), July 22 at the Yunusobod Sports Complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Bohol pride lorded over the competition, completing a 120 kg lift right on her first attempt in the clean and jerk to bag her second gold before further raising it to 130 in her final attempt to clinch the Junior’s title with a 230 total.
The 31st Southeast Asian Games gold medalist had all the momentum going into the clean and jerk after a solid start to the competition with her first gold medal in snatch.
Sarno easily lifted 95 in her first attempt before raising the bar to 100kg although he needed two attempts to complete it.
Retsu Anggi from Indonesia finished a far second with a total lift of 212kg. She also bagged a bronze in snatch with 92 and a silver in clear and jerk with 120.
Korea’s Kim Hyemin then finished third with a 211 total after a 93 kg lift to bag the silver in snatch and 118 in clean and jerk good for the bronze.
Sarno’s 3-gold haul hiked the country’s tally to 15 golds, two silvers and 3 bronzes.
Sarno also became the first Filipino bet to win at two golds in the event.
Rose Jean Ramos emerged as the most decorated PH athlete with four golds, followed by Sarno, Rosalinda Fautista and Rosegie Ramos – all with three golds – and Angeline Colonia with two golds.
