FILE–Young weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ann Ando — CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Rising Filipino lifter Vanessa Sarno just missed out on a podium finish at the 2021 International Weightlifting Federation World Championships on Monday in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Sarno was tied with Patricia Strenius of Sweden and Olivia Reeves of the United States but had to settle for fifth place via tiebreak in the women’s 71kg class.
The 18-year-old Sarno, tipped as the next Filipino weightlifting star after Hidilyn Diaz, had a total lift of 231kg.
Sarno, who won two gold medals in the Asian Weightlifting Championship last April, cleared 103kg on her third try in the snatch and 128kg on her first attempt in the clean and jerk.
Another Filipino in Elreen Ando placed fifth in the women’s 59kg on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Tokyo Olympian tallied a combined lift of 214kg.
Meanwhile, Margaret Colonia, cousin of Rio Olympian Nestor Colonia, had a tough campaign after finishing 14th in the women’s 64kg on Sunday.