From Intensive Care Unit to the gold-medal podium.
That’s how Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas chief Monico Puentevella described the harrowing episode experienced by Team Philippines in New Delhi Wednesday.
Vanessa Sarno, the heir apparent to Olympic champion Hidilyn Diaz, had a major health scare that sent her to the ICU of a local hospital there, according to Puentevella.
Fortunately, she appeared in good shape when Puentevella and her coaches arrived to see her. Sarno even insisted on competing the following day.
“I told her she didn’t need to compete anymore, we already have 16 gold medals by then. Her health is our foremost concern,” Puentevella told Daily Tribune.
“But she was pleading with me. She had a big lunch and then asked me to allow her to compete even for just one lift.”
Sarno was among the last Filipinos to see action in the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships 2023.
“Maybe she was thinking she came all the way here for nothing, and then her teammates have been winning gold medals left and right,” added Puentevella who eventually relented.
She didn’t disappoint. The Southeast Asian Games gold medalist easily won three gold medals in the junior women’s 71-kilogram event at the Gautam Buddha University.
But Puentevella said Sarno will undergo check-up once they landed back to the country to make sure she’s in the pink of health.
It sure looked like it, though, as the 19-year-old Sarno effortlessly lifted 95 kgs in the snatch and 121kgs in the clean-and-jerk, for a total lift of 216 kgs, dominating the 10-woman field.
Prior to this tournament, she copped a silver medal in the 2023 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Jinju, South Korea and the gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia last May.
Thailand’s Phattharathida Wongsing came in second place in the snatch of 92 kgs, a clean-and-jerk of 210kgs and a total lift of 212 kgs.
Svinchoy Komilova of Uzbekistan completed the podium at third place after lifting 88 kgs in the snatch, 110kgs in the clean-and-jerk with Japan’s Akari Nishio and a total lift of 198 kgs.
The Philippines emerged as the overall champion in the meet, capping off its stint in the tournament with 19 gold, 10 silver and four bronze medals.
“We got 19 golds in seven days. 10 of 11 got medals. Onwards to LA Olympics 2028!,” Puentevella said.
“They are set to come home on Friday.”
Apart from Sarno, Jhodie Peralta and Rose Jean Ramos took home three gold medals each in the youth and junior divisions, respectively, of the women’s 49-kg events.
SEA Games silver medalist Rosalinda Faustino also collected two gold medals in the youth women’s 45-kg event along with Prince Kiel delos Santos, who also took home two gold medals in the youth men’s 49-kg.
