A 53-year-old Filipina won four gold medals and established a world record to emerge as the most dominant athlete in the 2014 Asian Powerlifting Championships at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City on Thursday.
Anita Koykka hoisted 182.50 kilograms in the deadlift event to break the old record of 175 kilos she set in the same championships last year in Manila.
“Powerlifting is a mind game. You need to motivate yourself. You need to set your mind that you can do it. I really want to break the record and I’m glad that I did it,” Koykka, who is from Ormoc City, Leyte, said.
She also won the squat, bench press and total categories.
Koykka participated in the master 2 division for athletes between 50 and 59 years old.
About 100 powerlifters from the Philippines, Japan, Mongolia, Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Taiwan and Uzbekistan took part in the tournament.
Reigning world junior champion Regie Ramirez also made his presence felt by ruling the squat, bench press, deadlift and total) categories of the men’s junior 59-kg. class so as Joan Masangkay, who ruled the squat, bench press, deadlift and total of the women’s sub-junior 47-kg.
Also winning four golds (squat, bench press, deadlift and total) were Darryl Ann Ancuelo (women’s sub-junior 43-kg.), Margarette Angulo (women’s sub-junior 72-kg.), Jena Mae Neri (women’s junior 43-kg.), Mia del Mundo (women’s junior 72-kg.), Victorina Calma (women’s masters I 52-kg.), Leticia Mangcao (women’s open 47-kg.), Raya Maala (women’s open 84-kg.), Romel Gacutara (men’s sub-junior 53-kg.), John Empig (men’s sub-junior 74-kg.) and Marlon Herrera (men’s masters I 74-kg.).
“We’re looking for more gold medals on the final day of the competition. It’s a great achievement for us knowing how good the participants in this event are. Everyone’s improving,” said Powerlifting Association of the Philippines Secretary General and Tournament Director Eddie Torres.
The other gold medallists were Cyrus Cardano (two golds in men’s sub-junior 93-kg.), Patrick John Rivera (two golds in men’s open 93-kg.), Carlos Tan (two golds in men’s junior 74-kg.), Jasmine Martin (one gold in women’s junior 52-kg.), Leslie Evangelista (one gold in women’s open 52-kg.), Linus Tiu (one gold in men’s open 93-kg.) and Isiah De Villa (one gold in men’s junior 74-kg.).
“We try as much as possible to fulfill the needs of the participants especially our foreign visitors. We want to make a good impression hosting this event. We want to show them how hospitable the Filipinos are,” said Assistant Tournament Director Nina Oca.