-strong #2
以前にEnDoughくんが「〜強の」という意味のstrongを採り上げていますが,strongは「総勢…の」(『プログレッシブ英和中辞典』小学館)のように「合計」を表す場合も用いることができます。同辞書には用例としてa military force 20,000 strong[=a 20,000-strong military force](総勢2万人の軍隊)が挙げられていました。そして今回の記事の15-strongは「総勢で15名の」という意味です。(Koyamamoto)
cf. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/A30/20120923/1348412241
Judo: Japanese female Olympians 'beaten' by coaches
TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's female Olympic judo athletes were beaten with bamboo swords and slapped by their coaches, officials said on Wednesday, weeks after a schoolboy's suicide sparked anguished debate over corporal punishment.
A 15-strong group of judokas complained to the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) last month that they had been subjected to physical punishment by the team's head coach.
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/sports/story/judo-japans-judo-federation-says-coach-used-violence-pre-olympic-training