Filipino powerlifters bagged bronze in Int’l tilt in Austria

PROVING that the Philippines is the best in Asia when it comes to powerlifting, the team of Filipino powerlifters took home the bronze medal in a four-day 2007 World Open Powerlifting Championships recently held in Soelden, Austria.

Reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) revealed that the competition kicks off on October 15 until 20 gathering some of the finest powerlifters in the world.

According to the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, capital of the host country, the Filipino powerlifters set a new record for the country and Asian records, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo quoted.

Proud Filipino powerlifters were composed by Enrique Rafael ‘Richie’ Rosales, Erlina Pecante, Elvira Lorenzo, and Jinky Santos competed in different events in which Romulo added that they had a “sterling performance” in Ostrava, the Czech Republic.

Filipino supporters in Austria burst out when Rosales captured the bronze with his stunning performance of 225-kg (495 lbs.) bench press. Rosales competed in the 82.5-kg (181.5 lbs) weight class.

The DFA said the Philippines was setting a new Philippine National Bench Open Record by officially posting the heaviest bench press recorded in any weight class in the Philippines (225 kg. and 80.1 kg bodyweight).

Powerlifting is a strength sport, consisting of three events: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. In an Internet research showed that each competitor is allowed three attempts on each lift.

Meanwhile, Pecante, who in the 82.5 kg. class and set two new Asian Masters 1 (40-49 years of age) records in the squat and total events; Lorenzo, who joined in the 52-kg weight class brought to set a new Asian Masters 1 (40-49 years of age) record in the deadlift event; and Santos, show off her personal bests in the squat and deadlift in the 48-kg weight class.

Both Lorenzo and Santos were first timers in the World Open championships.

Pecante, along with her teammate Colonel Antonio Taguibao, who were winners of the Czech competition held early this month, presented their winning medal to Philippine Ambassador to Vienna Linlingay Lacanlale.

Lacanlale lauded the Filipino powerlifters for the honor and glory they brought to the country. He also hopes that the Philippine government will give further attention to powerlifting as one of the major sports competition in the country.

The success of the Filipino powerlifters in the international competition would somehow inspire Filipino youths to venture into this sport, Lacanlale added.

Among of the major sponsors of the Filipino team was Unique Interaction, a call center in Ortigas led by its Chief Executive Officer Beau Rudd and Chief Operating Officer Rommel Sarmiento.* (Roberto Bacasong)