By REY C. LACHICA
Weightlifter Vanessa Sarno is widely regarded as the next big thing in Philippine sports – the heiress apparent to the legendary Hidilyn Diaz.
Her burgeoning collection of trophies and medals is enough to vouch her new-found status.
But just how ready is Sarno for the coming Hangzhou Asian Games?
Not so much.
The 19-year-old “Wonder Woman” from Bohol injured her left elbow while competing in the recent IWF World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and until now she’s still in the recovery stage.
Being considered as one of the country’s top gold medal prospects, Sarno’s condition will certainly put a damper to the country’s campaign in the event trumpeted as the biggest sporting showpiece in this part of the globe.
“Masakit siya. Hindi ko pa siya maituwid,” recalled the Asian and world junior champion after the snatch event during the Riyadh competition.
She quit after feeling the sudden and excruciating pain, a decision given approval by team officials so as not to aggravate the injury.
Little wonder, she refused to comment on her chances, saying: “Mahirap pa po magsalita kung ano mangyayari sa Asian Games.”
“Mahirap pong ipilit kasi marami pa po kaming sasalihang Olympic qualifiers at baka mag-worst pa ,” said Sarno after the official send-off ceremony for Team Philippines at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Hoping against hope, Sarno and team officials are looking forward that the injury will heal up in time for the competition on Sept. 30.
“Pero mas better na siya ngayon, kasi nung bago siya, hindi ko talaga mai-diretso,” she said with a cheerful look.
Another roadblock to her gold medal aspiration is that she will be competing at a higher weight class which experts said is not to her liking.
In the Cambodia SEA Games and Asian Championships, she campaigned in the -71 kg class and she appeared untouchable in both events as she took the golds in almost routine fashion.
But in Hangzhou, she will be vying in the -76 kg for the first time after the organizers scrapped her pet event.
And that presents lots of challenges and danger to her bid.
“First time ko sa -76 kg, so bago yung mga kalaban ko.”
Well, even Diaz is also up for a tough challenge as she will move up to 59kg class, a division that is apparently to her disadvantage.
