PRIMING itself up for bigger battles ahead, the Philippines brought home two golds, 6 silvers and 13 bronze medals after three days of competition in the recently concluded 2017 Thailand Open karate championship.
Youthful Jaime Villegas delivered the first gold for the Philippine national team, collectively known as the Typhoons, with his victory in the male junior kata event.
Jayson Maacalay provided the second gold after topping the junior kumite -60 kgs division.
Winning silver medals were David Tubana in the Cadet Kumite -52 kgs. division, Brian De Jesus (Cadet -57 Kumite), John Aori Sevillo (Cadet +70 Kumite), Gabriel Villaluz Jr (-55 Kumite), Bea Balungaya Jr (+56 Kumite) and Mae Soriano (- 55 Kumite).
James delos Santos, two-time gold medalist in the ISKF World Shotocup, settled for the bronze medal in the male kata competition.
“This year’s Thailand Open was tough. But despite that, I snatched the bronze medal in the end,” said the country’s top bet in the Tokyo Olympics where the event has been included as one of the regular sports. “That tells me I have work to do, but it’ll keep me a lot hungrier.”
Delos Santos vowed to work hard under coaches David Lay and Jay Futalan to improve his skills as he looks forward to joining qualifying tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“There will be more to come. Laban Pilipinas,” added Delos Santos, who, prior to the Thailand Open, defended his title in the men’s kata with a masterful performance in Cape Town, South Africa in August last year.
The Philippines is getting ready for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in September and Olympic qualifying tournaments.
Also delivering the bronze medals were Nathan Tyrel Lim (12-13 years old Kumite), Thomas Jared Lim (10 to 11 kata), Carl karvin Mayugba (8-9 kata), David Tubana (Cadet Kata), Anton Batungbacal (Cadet kata), James Delosantos (Male Kata), Antonio Batungbacal (cadet – 70), Micheal Joseph Farmer (+ 70 cadet), Emanuel John Navarro (- 70 Cadet), Sharieff Afif (Kumite -84), Christian Queeco (+ 84 Kumite), Bryan Fontillas (+ 84 Kumite) and Kimberly Madrona (50 kg Kumite).
Karl Corbin Mayugba also won a bronze in the 8-9 years old kumite in the Thai Open Smart Kids.
The team was accompanied by Philippine Karate Federation president Joey Romasanta and secretary-general Raymund Lee Reyes.