10 hours Ago By Josef Ramos
PARIS Olympics weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza on Wednesday said he was surprised by the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas’s (SWP) decision to drop him from the national team stressing his only desire was to train in Manila under a new coach. Ceniza was the Philippines’ entry in the men’s 61 kgs and Vanessa Sarno competed in the women’s 71 kgs class in Paris 2024 with both earning No Lifts results. “I was coming from a shoulder injury and I still feel it today,” Ceniza told BusinessMirror.
“But I’m surprised with my removal from the national team.” Stressing he didn’t violate any rule, Ceniza added: “All I wanted was to train in Manila, but they did not allow it. I do not know why?” “They wanted me to train in Cebu,” he said.
“That’s what they said about my removal. About my return to the national team? Let’s wait and see.” Ceniza no longer receives monthly allowances from the Philippine Sports Commission after he was dropped from the national roster since September, but claimed he missed training under national coach Ramon Solis because of his injury.
The 26-year-old Cebuano, however, said he feels no despair on missing the world championships in Manama, Bahrain, saying qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics start in 2027. “It’s not an Olympic qualifying event,” he said. “But my priority is to be in shape and I have to train on my own for the meantime.
” Sarno also isn’t on the national team in Bahrain worlds that starts Saturday with two-time Olympian Erleen Ann Ando, Rosegie Ramos, Fernando Agad, Dave Lloyd Pacaldo and John Dexter Tabique leading the Philippine campaign..
