PH set to host Asian junior weightlifting tilt says SWP chief Puentevella

Vanessa Sarno, who reigned supreme in the Asian Weightlifting Championships last April, will be a heavy favorite in the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships this January likely in Manila.

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--A major sporting event could take place in this city amid the COVID-19 pandemic very soon.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella bared on Thursday that this city is scheduled to host the Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships.

"I'm now announcing [that] the Asian Weightlifting Federation has given me the hosting [rights]," Puentevella said in the Usapang Sports online forum.

The former Negros Occidental congressman added that the event was initially scheduled to take place in December, but he requested it to move it to January 2022 instead.

"Puno tayo sa Christmas eh. Gusto ko January, yung focus weightlifting lang," Puentevella explained.

He then said that he is eyeing the Rizal Memorial Coliseum as the venue of the event "kung papayagan ng IATF."

Some of the best young weightlifters from Asia are expected to converge together in the said event, including Vanessa Sarno, who lorded over the Asian Weightlifting Championships last April when she won two golds and one silver in the women's 71-kilogram category.

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