The Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas is pinning its hopes on four lifters to make it to the 2024 ParisOlympics.
SWP president Monico Puentevela told DAILY TRIBUNE in an online conversation that Tokyo Summer Games champion Hidilyn Diaz, Asian champion Vannesa Sarno, John Ceniza and Rosegie Ramos are the frontrunners in their respective weight categories after joining International Weightlifting Federation-sanctioned tournaments.
The Philippines sent a seven-man delegation to the 2023 IWF World Championships in Riyadh with Sarno and Kristel Macrohon competing in the women’s 71-kilogram event as of press time.
“With God’s help, we’ll probably have three to four lifters in the Paris Olympics. With two more qualifying legs to go, it’s Rosegie Ramos, Hidilyn Diaz, Vanessa Sarno and John Fabuar Ceniza,” Puentevella said.
Diaz recently placed seventh in the women’s 59-kg event of the world championships after a total lift of 224kgs.
The 31-year-old pride of Zamboanga City also won the 2022 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Bogota last December and placed fourth in the Asian Weightlifting Championships last May in Jinju, South Korea, giving her an edge over SEA Games champion Elreen Ando, who did not rank in these competitions.
Ramos recently placed seventh in the women’s 49-kg event of the world championships after a total lift of 188kgs while Cenize took fifth place in the men’s 61-kg event after a total lift of 296kgs.
After Sarno suffered a health scare at the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships 2023 last August in New Delhi, Puentevella won’t be expecting much as he wants to see how the 19-year-old lifter from Tagbilaran, Bohol will fare in the tournament.
“Let’s see. I’m sure she’ll do her best!” Puentevella said.
