32 gold medals for PhIlIPPIne bench Pressteam
The national powerlifting team won a total of 32 gold medals in the recently concluded 2017 Asian Bench Press Championships at the Great Eastern Hotel activity hall in Quezon City.
The six-day competition, which was held from Sept. 6 to 12, had a total of 300 lifters from Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan competing.
The Philippines fielded a team of 48 athletes, 22 men and 26 women. The Philippines bagged the overall championship crown in four categories, namely women’s sub-juniors, women’s juniors, women’s open and women’s masters.
Veteran international powerlifter Anita Koykka led the team with her two gold medals in the -57 kg. category of women’s masters and women’s open in the event.
Reigning World Deadlift champion and Asian Championship gold medalist Joan Masangkay made her presence felt by claiming the top honors in the women’s juniors 43 kg. while Francisco Arca (men’s sub-juniors -66 kg.), Rolando Maye (men’s masters -59 kg.), Jessa Mae Tabuan (women’s sub-juniors -43 kg.), Rowella Abrea (women’s sub-juniors -47 kg.) and Kathleen Chiang (women’s juniors -63 kg.) also topped their respective events.
Other gold medalists were Gabriel Hidalgo in men’s juniors; Merwin Torres, Edwin Sonido, Patrick Torres, Edgar Munar, Vlademeer Sorezo and Roberto Gayanes in men’s masters; Romeo Tayawa in men’s open; Veronica Ompod, Rachel Bais, Daisy Grace Lipasana and Marielle Liwanag in women’s sub-juniors; Maxine Fugen, Nicole Go and Catherine Marthos in women’s juniors; Victorina Calma, Kathy Moran, Nina Oca and Jane Quiambao in women’s masters; and Jinky Guion, Leslie Evangelista, May Estrera, Lee Anne Zipagan and Samantha Tayag in women’s open.
Eight Filipino lifters were named Best Lifters (Most Valuable Player) in their weight classes. They are Tabuan and Ompod in sub-juniors; Chaing and Masangkay in juniors; Calma in Master I, Koykka and Moran in Master II; and Oca in Master III. —