The Philippine national powerlifting women’s team picked up 4 overall championship crowns and 32 gold medals at the Asian Bench Press Championships held in Quezon City.
The Filipina powerlifters won the titles in 4 categories:
- Women’s Masters
- Women’s Open
- Women’s Juniors
- Women’s Sub-juniors
The women’s and men’s national teams competed for the championship crowns against 300 lifters from Japan, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Lebanon, and Pakistan.
The 32 gold medals Philippines haul at the Asian Bench Press Championships:
- Anita Koykka – 2 gold medals (Women’s Masters, Women’s Open, -57 kg.)
- Victorina Calma – gold (Women’s Masters)
- Kathy Moran – gold (Women’s Masters)
- Nina Oca – gold (Women’s Masters)
- Jane Quiambao – gold (Women’s Masters)
- Jinky Guion – gold (Women’s Open)
- Leslie Evangelista – gold (Women’s Open)
- May Estrera – gold (Women’s Open)
- Lee Anne Zipagan – gold (Women’s Open)
- Samantha Tayag – gold (Women’s Open)
- Joan Masangkay – gold medal (Women’s Juniors, 43 kg.)
- Kathleen Chiang – gold medal (Women’s Juniors -63 kg.)
- Maxine Fugen – gold (Women’s Juniors)
- Nicole Go – gold (Women’s Juniors)
- Catherine Marthos – gold (Women’s Juniors)
- Jessa Mae Tabuan – gold medal (Women’s Sub-Juniors -43 kg.)
- Rowella Abrea – gold medal (Women’s Sub-Juniors -47 kg.)
- Francisco Arca – gold medal (Men’s Sub-Juniors, -66 kg.)
- Veronica Ompod – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors)
- Rachel Bais – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors)
- Daisy Grace Lipasana – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors)
- Marielle Liwanag – gold (Women’s Sub-Juniors)
- Rolando Maye – gold medal (Men’s Masters -59 kg.)
- Gabriel Hidalgo – gold (Men’s Juniors)
- Merwin Torres – gold (Men’s Masters)
- Edwin Sonido – gold (Men’s Masters)
- Patrick Torres – gold (Men’s Masters)
- Edgar Munar – gold (Men’s Masters)
- Vlademeer Sorezo – gold (Men’s Masters)
- Roberto Gayanes – gold (Men’s Masters)
- Romeo Tayawa – gold (Men’s Open)
Filipino lifters were also recognized as the Best Lifters in their weight classes:
- Victorina Calma – Master I
- Anita Koykka – Master II
- Kathy Moran – Master II
- Nina Oca – Master III
- Joan Masangkay – Juniors
- Kathleen Chiang – Juniors
- Jessa Mae Tabuan – Sub-Juniors
- Veronica Ompod – Sub-Juniors
Forty eight athletes, 26 women and 22 men, comprised the Philippine team that won championship crowns and gold medals at the International Powerlifting Federation-sanctioned Asian Bench Press Championships.
