The Philippines had an impressive campaign in the recent 2023 Asian Youth & Junior Weightlifting Championships in Delhi, India as it won 19 gold medals, along with ten silvers and four bronzes.
One of the medalists was Vanessa Sarno who bagged three golds in the women’s junior 71 kg event.
Apparently, she was under intensive care for two days after she collapsed upon her arrival in India. She was advised by the doctor not to compete in the tournament, but she still competed and eventually won the medals.
“Sayang din po eh. Alam ko po na kaya ko pong mag-gold kaya sabi ko, nandito naman din ako. Nandito ako para lumaban. Hindi ako nandito para magpahinga lang,” she said in Chino Trinidad’s report on 24 Oras, Friday.
(I don’t want to waste the chance. I know that I can get the gold so compete might as well since I’m here to compete and not to rest.)
Meanwhile, Rose Jean Ramos, the representative for women’s 45kg event in the junior division, bagged a gold and two silver medals after getting a total lift of 157 kg.
This is her final year as a junior athlete.
“Gusto ko i-enjoy ang last junior ko this year,” she said. “Focus po ako ngayon sa September sa Worlds, qualifying for Olympics, ‘yun po ang goal ko.”
(I want to enjoy my last year as a junior. My focus will shift to the World Championships in September which will also be an Olympic qualifier.)
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News
