Officials of the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas are looking forward at having their sport included in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Secretary-General Wharton Chan said this after the Philippine kickboxing team ended its campaign in the 30th Southeast Asian Games with three gold medals.
“We are looking forward at the SEA Games. If we send athletes there, we are one step closer at being regular members,” said Chan.
Chan said the SKP in keen on becoming a regular member of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
During the biennial meet, Gina Iniong, Jean Claude Saclag, and Jerry Olsim emerged as gold medal winners in the discipline.
This was a stellar achievement for the Philippines with the sport celebrating its maiden stint in the Games.
Iniong clobbered Thailand’s Apichaya Mingkwan 3-0 to rule the women’s -55kg kick light division while Saclag pounced on Mohammed Mahmoud of Malaysia 3-0 in the men’s 63.5kg full contact.
Olsim gave the Philippines its first gold in the discipline on Monday in the men’s -69kg kick light division.
The Filipinos also claimed two silvers courtesy of Jomar Balangui and Renalyn Dacquel, and one bronze from Karl Manguide.
Overall, the Philippines placed second behind Vietnam in the sport.
Vietnam took the top honors in kickboxing with four golds and two bronzes, while Laos is third with its 1-0-3 gold-silver-bronze performance.