RP LIFTERS SCOOP 35 MEDALS

Taiwan, Nov. 4, 1997 - The Philippine team won 35 medals in the 1997 Asian Men's and Women's powerlifting championships being held at Cheng-Hua, Taiwan.

Eddie Torres, the Philippines' strongest man, copped the Philippine harvest by capturing the gold in the men's 100-kilogram deadlift event.

Torres also bagged a silver and a bronze in the squat and bench press events in the same category, which highlighted the country's 23 silver medals after three days of competition.

Filipina Erlina Pecante, veteran of Asian powerlifting championships and reigning strongest woman in the Philippines, settled fro a silver on her total lift in the women's 75-kilogram weight class.

The breakdown of medals: 1 gold, 23 silver, 11 bronze. Eleven Asian countries participated in the event.