RP powerlifters shine in World Masters

MANILA, Philippines - Powerlifting is not in the Southeast Asian and Asian Games calendar but if only the sport had more recognition, the Philippines would surely be a world title favorite.

At the World Masters Powerlifting Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, recently, the Philippine team made up of chef de mission Tony Taguibao, Lily Pecante and Anita Koykka bagged seven gold medals to go with four silvers and a bronze in a dominating show of force.

Taguibao, 51, lifted a total of 981 pounds in the squat, bench-press and deadlift to edge Japan’s Kagawa Masaru for the 56-kilogram crown, his sixth world diadem. He came home with three golds and a silver in the 29-nation event for men and women 40 years old and up.

Koykka, 48, made an auspicious international debut by breaking three Asian records in the squat (308 pounds), deadlift (330) and total (793). The Ormoc native, whose Finnish husband Tony was a former world powerlifting champion, settled for second place in the overall standings behind the US’ Suzanne Hartwig-Gary. The bronze went to France’s Anita Peyron.

But it was Pecante, 45, who stole the show by sweeping the gold medals in the three individual events en route to her fifth straight world title in the 90-kilogram class. She lifted 440 pounds in the squat, 248 in bench-press and 418 in deadlift for a total of 1,107. Her overall score was 264 pounds over runner-up Szeiler Krisztina of Hungary.

Powerlifting Association of the Philippines (PAP) president Eddie Torres told The STAR yesterday age isn’t a factor in the sport as the country’s Masters champions also outshine their rivals in the Open category.

“I think powerlifters get even stronger when they’re over 40,” said the 44-year-old Torres who captured three golds at the Asian Championships in Udaipur, India, last May. “Factors like reaction time, speed and endurance aren’t as critical in our sport as in basketball or boxing where younger athletes are at an advantage. When the Philippines competed in the last Asian Championships, six of our nine powerlifters were over 40 and we brought back a lot of gold medals.”

Torres said Koykka started powerlifting only a few years ago and has already broken the Philippine Open record in her class.

“It’s never too late to start in the sport, no matter what age,” said Torres. “After dominating the PAP events in the Visayas, Anita joined the National Open and later qualified for the Philippine team. Of course, she’s coached by her husband who is a former world champion from Finland. Can you imagine if their daughter took up powerlifting? With her genes, she would be a champion but I think she does gymnastics.”

Torres said the next Asian Championships will be held in Olan Bator, Mongolia, this May and slots are available in the Juniors (19-23 years old), Masters and Open divisions. Only Pecante is a shoo-in for the team, noted Torres. Both the Masters and Open teams will accommodate 10 men and nine women each. The Juniors team will take in 11 males and 10 females.

Even as the veterans are showing the way in the Masters category, Torres said the future is secure with up-and-coming youngsters like 15-year-old Patricia Llena who won the world sub-junior title in Sao Paolo, Brazil, last September. Llena of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, lifted a total of 420 kilograms in the three powerlifting events to claim the overall championship, beating the US’ Kendra Miller and three-time world titlist Talybora Yana of Russia.

At the moment, Torres said Pecante is still unbeatable in her class. Early this year, she won the gold medal at the World Masters Bench-Press Championships in Taupo, New Zealand. And Pecante set her seventh world record by lifting 485 pounds in the squat at the World Games in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, last July. Pecante is the only Philippine athlete ever to qualify for the World Games, featuring non-Olympic sports held every four years.

Pecante also owns 27 Philippine and 10 Asian records. She started powerlifting in 1987 but was interrupted twice in her career - first, for two years after giving birth to her son Andre and second, for three years to recover from an ACL injury. Now, Pecante is as strong as ever and competes against powerlifters who could pass for her children.

Torres said PAP vice president Dominic Cabalza’s recent murder had nothing to do with sports.

“We mourn Nick’s passing and we’ll miss him,” said Torres. “I’m sure his death was not related to sports because with no money in powerlifting, there are no funds to quarrel over. There are no cash prizes in the competitions we enter and no cash rewards for our medalists. We compete for the love of the sport and to bring honor to our country.”

Torres said the powerlifters owe their participation in international competitions to the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Dewfoam and Zest Power Gym.