Ormoc bets dominate Asian powerlifting

MANILA, Philippines - Anita Koykka came through with record lifts while fellow Ormoc City bets Leticia Mangcao and Regie Ramirez topped their respective classes in the Asian Powerlifting Championships at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong recently.

Koykka, considered as the strongest woman in the country, set new marks in squat (140 kg), (benchpress (65 kg) and deadlift (165 kg) to lead the Philippines campaign in the five-day event.

The 54-year-old Koykka also racked up four gold medals in the Masters 2 Category 57 kg and bagged the silver in the Open 57 kg against competitors half her age, according to her husband and national coach Tony Koykka.

Meanwhile, Mangcao ruled the squat 140 kg for the second straight time (a new Philippine record); benchpress 65 kg and deadlift 145 kg while Ramirez, a former junior class lifter, moved up to the Open class and won the Open squat 220 kg, benchpress 140 kg and deadlift 220 kg.

The event drew the participation of over 200 lifters from 12 countries with the Philippines, headed by team manager JR Santos, fielding in 18, including three from Ormoc, five sub-junior lifters from Tacloban and 10 from Manila.