Hopes are high that two promising weighlifters in the women’s division will come up with their best showing in the coming 2021 World Weightlifting Championships.
The many challenges in the preparations that Tokyo Olympic veteran Elreen Ando and Asian Championship standout Vanessa Sarno went through have been tough.
And it’s in the same level of difficulty that the country’s first Olympic gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz have experienced in the many years that she spent training.
“These kids have been joining many international competitions ever since. And what Hidilyn has went through, they are going through as well. They just have to work hard as well and win medals,” said Samahang Weighlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella.
Ando and Sarno are set to lead the country’s campaign in the International Weighlifting Federation world championships, which will go on from December 7 to 17 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
And they will compete without Diaz, who went back to training in Malaysia last September, but has not shown her commitment in taking part in the Tashkent meet.
Ando placed seventh place in the women’s 64 kg. event during the Olympics, recording 100kg in the snatch and 122kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 222kg in her debut.
Sarno gave the Philippines’ first two golds in the 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships, coming up with a total of 229kgs in the women’s 71kg final to win the gold.
They will be joined by Mary Flor Diaz, Ellen Rose Perez, Margaret Colonia and Kristel Macrohon.
Forming the men’s team are Fernando Agad, John Ceniza, Dave Pacaldo and John Tabique.