Pinoy lifters strike gold in World Masters

A two-man Philippine powerlifting team snatched three gold, two silver and one bronze medals in the recent 2002 World Masters Powerlifting Championship in Villa Maria, Argentina.

Lt. Col. Antonio Taguibao, a member of the PSG-Special Operations Group, lifted a total of 963 punds to win three golds and a silver in the 52-kilogram class. He has been a World Masters champion titleholder for three consecutive years.

Rene Dio, a Fitness International, Gold Gym and Clark Hatch personal trainer, lifted a total of 1,535 pounds to cop the silver in deadlift and third place overall against 14 participants including those from USA, Russia and Canada in the 82.5-kilogram class.

The two Filipinos actually bested entries from 25 countries. The first two days of the competition were dominated by lifters from Asian countries wherein the first five weight categories out of a total of 11 were won by teams from RP, Japan and Iran.

The two lifters drew ample support from Ambassador George Reyes in Buenos Aires and his staff and Crescenciano Erpe who accompanied them to Villa Maria.They were also backed up PSC chairman Eric Buhain and commissioner Butch Ramirez and Ferdie Guerrero.