More golden glitter at weightlifting for Philippines at SEA Games - ever-smiling Vanessa Sarno sets new games' records in golden lift

Philippines' Vanessa Palomar Sarno competes in the women's 71kg weightlifting event during the 31st South-East Asian Games (SEA Games) in Hanoi on Saturday. May 21, 2022. She won the gold medal in the event with record breaking performances. - AFP

HANOI, May 21 (Philippines Daily Inquirer/ANN): Vanessa Sarno showed why she’s being considered in the Paris Olympics. Her numbers were way too much for just the Southeast Asian Games gold she won on Saturday.

The 18-year-old Sarno, who hails from Bohol, carried a total of 239 kilogrammes on a 104kg (snatch) and 135kg (clean and jerk) lifts to give the Philippines the women’s 71kg title in the 31st Southeast Asian Games at Hanoi Sports Palace.

That was way up the previous SEA Games marks of 123 in clean and jerk, and 227 total.

“Thank you very much to all who believed in me,” said an emotional Sarno in Filipino. “I know that I can do it because we had a great training camp (at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex). When I got the snatch, I know I will win the jerk.”

Now she’s thinking of joining all the qualifying event for Paris Olympics in 2024 and pursue the seeds of ambition that Hidilyn Diaz planted on her.

“She (Hidilyn) said in sports your life will change (for the better),” said Sarno thanking the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports. “This is it. I won the SEA Games. Thank to those who supported me.”

“This is the face of the future,” said Samahang Weighlifting sa Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella of Sarno who defeated Khaipandung Siriyakorn of Thailand (103-120-223) and Restu Angi of Indonesia (92-120-212).

Meantime, Sarno said she wants to hug her family after spending a month in training camp. “I just want to enjoy this,” she said. - Philippines Daily Inquirer/ANN