Pasig Postmaster Ms. Erlina Pecante and Col. Antonio Taguibao present their medals to Ambassador Lacanlale. Ms. Pecante set two new Asian Masters records at the World Powerlifting Championships held in Austria on 15-20 October.

Mr. Enrique Rafael “Richie” Rosales, bronze medal winner in the 82.5 kg. weight class, raises the Philippine flag during the awards ceremony at the World Powerlifting Championships in Soelden, Austria.

26 October 2007 – The Philippine Embassy in Vienna reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Philippine team again showed its mettle and won a bronze medal setting new Philippine and Asian records at  the 2007 World Open Powerlifting Championships held in Soelden, Austria on 15 to 20 October. Earlier, the team had a sterling performance in Ostrava, the Czech Republic.

Powerlifting is a sport that involves short movements and is progressively gaining popularity. Competition consist of three events which include the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Competitors are grouped according to gender, weight class, and age.

Capturing the bronze medal, powerlifter Enrique Rafael “Richie” Rosales with his 225-kg (495 lbs.) bench press, competed in the 82.5 kg. weight class. The Philippines is 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. @ 80.1 kg. bodyweight).

Equally, three team members who also set new Philippine and Asian records during the four day competition were Erlina Pecante, competing in the 82.5 kg. class, set two new Asian Masters 1 (40-49 years of age) records in the squat and total events; Elvira Lorenzo, competing in the 52 kg.-weight class in her very first World Open championships, set a new Asian Masters 1 (40-49 years of age) record in the deadlift event; and Jinky Santos. also competing in her first World Open championships, posted personal bests in the squat and deadlift in the 48 kg. weight class.

The Philippine Honorary Consul in Innsbruck, Dr. Christian Traweger led the Filipino community in Tyrol province, cheered and supported the team during the competition.

Ms. Pecante and teammate Colonel Antonio Taguibao, winners of the Czech competition held early this month, informed RP’s victory in Soelden and presented their medals to Philippine Ambassador to Vienna Linlingay Lacanlale.

The lady Ambassador commended the team for the honor and recognition brought to our country by the team’s participation in the aforementioned event. She expressed hope that the RP powerlifting team would inspire more Filipino youths to consider this undertaking, and noted that the sport is an area where Filipinos could be a dominant force. END.