Recent sporting successes such as weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's gold medal at the Tokyo Olympiad In July and golfer Yuka Saso's US Women's Open win a month earlier have raised expectations of further international victories. After her 2020 Australian Open girls' doubles conquest with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho, Eala added another doubles girls' trophy to her collection by winning the 2021 French Open in June with Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva. Last month, she reached the US Open girls' semis for the first time with Belgian Hanne Vanderwinkel. Fajardo, who has already played for Gilas Women 3x3 U-18 teams, won a bronze in the 2019 Asia Cup and placed eighth in the 2019 World Cup. Turning it up a notch, Sarno harvested three gold medals the following year at the International Weightlifting Federation Online World Youth Championship.

Source: Manila Times October 10, 2021 01:41 UTC