Lack of funds hampers RP powerlifters

The Philippines’ strongest man Eddie Torres will skip the World Open Powerlifting Championships in Newfoundland, Canada, on Nov. 3-7 because of limited resources but said yesterday the country will still be ably represented by Lily Pecante and Richie Rosales in the qualifying competition for the eighth World Games in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, next year.

Torres, 43, would’ve joined Pecante, 44, and Rosales, 33, in the mission to clinch spots in the World Games, held every four years for non-Olympic sports since 1981, if funds were available.

“We are grateful for the support of the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and our other sponsors,” said Torres who brought home a gold, silver and bronze in the 100-kilo class from the World Masters Championships in Palm Springs two weeks ago.

“We are just living within our means. We’re dependent on our sponsors and we try to stretch our budget to the limit.”

Although Torres is sitting out the qualifiers, he said his consolation is Pecante and Rosales will likely book tickets to Kaohsiung.

The last World Games were held in Duisburg, Germany, with Russia capturing 27 gold medals to top the standings. The World Games calendar consists of 45 disciplines in six categories – artistic and dance sports, ball sports, martial arts, precision sports, strength sports and trend sports.

Powerlifting is under strength sports with bodybuilding and tug-of-war. Billiards has three events – pool, carom and snooker – under precision sports. Dance sport is broken down into Latin, standard and rock ‘n’ roll under artistic and dance sports. Flying disc or frisbee, orienteering, water skiing, dragon boat racing, fin swimming and climbing are under trend sports. Karate, jiu-jitsu, sumo and wushu are under martial arts. Squash, korfball and beach handball are under ball sports.

However, Torres said the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines (PAP) has funds for the country’s top 13 lifters, including three wheelchair-bound paralympians, to compete at the Asian Bench Press Championships in Hong Kong on Dec. 4-8. The differently abled athletes are Adelaine Dumapong, Jinky Guion and Agustin Kitan.

Pecante, the holder of 31 national powerlifting records, said she’s not looking beyond the Canada qualifiers even as the prospect of competing in Kaohsiung appears bright after her four gold medal harvest in the recent World Masters Championships.

Pecante started powerlifting when she was 23.

“I wanted to lose weight so I used to work out at the Benson Apartelle in San Juan,” she said. “I got bored doing aerobics and one day, decided to try lifting weights. I easily carried 60 pounds in squat then moved up to 150, which surprised the trainers in the gym. Before I knew it, I was competing in powerlifting events.”

In 2001, Pecante became the first Filipino to win a gold medal in the 75-kilo division of deadlift at the World Open in the Czech Republic. She then sat out three years to recover from an ACL knee injury and returned in 2005 with Torres as her coach.

“My immediate goal is to qualify for the World Games,” she said. “Once I qualify, then I’ll think of winning a medal in Kaoshiung.”

Torres described Pecante as the country’s powerlifting icon.

“Lily is our best bet for a medal at the World Games,” said Torres who recently retired from his job at Dow Chemicals. “In our sport, strength is the focus. We do basic nutrition but we enjoy our food. If we gain weight, we move up in class. We eat six moderate meals a day. In my own regimen, I train from one to 1 1/2 hours a day.”

An example of a powerlifter who put on weight through the years is Pecante who made her debut in the 56-kilo class in 1987 and now competes in the 85-kilo division stronger than ever.

Torres said as a UP student, he dabbled in tennis, track and basketball until finding his niche in powerlifting. He has been involved in the sport for 24 years.

Another powerlifter Niña del Rosario-Oca, 52, will join the delegation in Hong Kong. The Assumption College graduate began powerlifting when she was 35 trying to lose weight at Bodyhaus in Ali Mall. She served as PAP secretary-general for six years.

In 1998, Oca won her first powerlifting gold medal as a 40-year-old novice. The mother of a 24-year-old son Bombi, she now holds the Philippine records for deadlift in the 56-kilo class and bench press in the 48-kilo division. Oca won two golds and two silvers at the recent World Masters Championships.

“Age isn’t a factor in powerlifting,” said Torres. “In some cases, powerlifters who are over 40 carry more weight than those who are 20 years younger. Even wheelchair-bound athletes, who compete in bench press, win in the open class. Our sport welcomes the mentally challenged and the blind, too. We participate in the Paralympics and coordinate closely with Philspada. Powerlifting is a sport that you can do for a long time.”

Pecante, the Postmaster of the Pasig Central Post Office, said she owes her success to Postmaster General Hector Villanueva and chairman Franco Loyola of the PhilPost Board of Directors for their full support. Whenever she competes, Pecante is allowed an athlete’s leave from work on official time.