Backdoor entry for Sarno possible

MANILA, Philippines — Vanessa Sarno, the new toast of Philippine weightlifting, may still make the Tokyo Olympics in July as a wildcard.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella said he would try to pull some strings to have the 17-year-old sensation, who captured two gold medals and a silver in the recent Asian Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, compete in the Summer Games via the backdoor.

“As a former Asian Weightlifting Federation (AWF) president and International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) board member, I can call people there and ask them to help me for a wild card slot. Gusto ko maging wild card si Sarno,” said Puentevella during yesterday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

If Sarno gets the slot, she will join 2016 Rio Games silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, who sealed her fourth stint in the Olympics with a fourth-place effort in Tashkent, as well as gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and boxers Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam.

The 30-year-old Diaz took the same path when she made it to her very first Olympics in 2008 in Beijing.

“That was how I started Hidilyn and now this is her fourth appearance. We have to start them young,” said the former politician and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) board member.

Puentevella is also hoping that Elreen Ando, who had two silver medals and a bronze in Tashkent, and Kristel Macrohon, who had two bronzes, could still make the cut as the final Tokyo cast are still being computed by the IWF at press time.

“I’m praying for that to happen,” said Puentevella.