Vanessa Sarno (File photo)
MANILA – The Philippines' Vanessa Sarno and Kristel Macrohon missed the podium in the women's 71-kilogram (kg) event of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Grand Prix 2 in Doha, Qatar on Sunday (early Monday, Philippine time).
The 20-year-old Sarno, Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) gold medalist in 2021 and 2023, ranked seventh in snatch (108 kg) and fifth in clean and jerk (141 kg) for a fifth-best total of 249 kg.
Macrohon, the 2019 SEAG champion in Manila, was 10th in snatch (104 kg), 11th in clean and jerk (130 kg) and ninth in total (234 kg).
North Korean Song Kuk Hyang pocketed the gold medal (120–149-269 kg), Chinese Liao Guifang (116-148-264 kg) got the silver and American Olivia Lynn Reeves settled for bronze (115-147-262 kg).
In the women's 49 kg, Rosegie Ramos placed fourth with a total lift of 191 kg (88-103) and Lovely Inan ninth with a total 182 kg (78-104).
In the 59 kg category on Saturday, 2023 Cambodia SEAG gold medalist Elreen Ann Ando could only place 11th with a total lift of 215 kg (95-120) while Tokyo Olympics gold medalist in 55 kg Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, who lifted 95 kg in snatch, did not compete in clean and jerk after suffering from cramps.
The IWF website said Diaz’s withdrawal “was precautionary after a minor injury worry and she expects to be moving up the rankings again at the next opportunity.”
The Philippine contingent, headed by Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella, will come home with four silver medals -- three from Rose Jean Ramos in the women's 45 kg event and one from John Febuar Ceniza in the men's 61 kg event.
Ramos, the 18-year-old pride of Zamboanga City, had a total lift of 155 kg -- 70 kg in snatch and 85 kg in clean and jerk.
The 25-year-old Ceniza of Cebu City ranked second overall (298 kg) despite finishing fourth in snatch (133 kg) and fifth in clean and jerk (165 kg).
Ceniza, a two-time SEAG silver medalist, set the national record of 134 kg in snatch during the Hangzhou Asian Games in October.
He also holds the national records in clean and jerk (170 kg) and total (300 kg), establishing both at the Philippine Open in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental in July. (PNA)
