Sarno receives MVP treatment

Weightlifting prodigy Vanessa Sarno will have her check-up after winning the women's 71-kilogram event of the Asian Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championships 2023 in New Delhi, India.

Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas president Monico Puentevella told Daily Tribune that one of the biggest sports patrons of the country will shoulder the expenses of Sarno, 19, who was brought to the intensive care unit in India hours before her event.

Shouldering Sarno's extensive check-up is tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, who received the victorious weightlifting team Thursday in Pasig City.

"MVP hosted a welcome dinner for 11 weightlifters who won 19 golds in India. He also offered to sponsor Sarno's medical needs for a check-up after her accident," Puentevella said.

"Her check-up will be next week at the Makati Medical Center," he added.

The MVP Sports Foundation had been one of the major backers of weightlifting in the Philippines.

In fact, the MVPSF was one of those who helped Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz when she was stranded in Malaysia back in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when all of the competitions were postponed and travel bans were in effect.

The MVPSF also recently welcomed the Philippine national women's football team, a program they supported since 2014, after the Filipinas' historic 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign highlighted by the 1-0 win over co-host New Zealand.

Sarno, who is being groomed to succeed Diaz, will be one of the gold medal hopefuls for the Philippines in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.