Twelve of the 15 athletes of Team Philippine bagged medals, with the duo of Alfau Jan Abad and Almohaidib Abad winning the country’s lone gold in the weeklong 6th Asian Pencak Silat Championships that concluded on Sunday at the Sheri-Kashmir Indoor Stadium in Srinagar, India.
The duo will share the gold in the men’s double artistic event even as the rest of the Philippine team members took two silvers and 8 bronze medals in the tournament participated in by about 150 athletes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Kazakhstan, Nepal, the Philippines, and host India.
“We are happy because most of our athletes will come home with medals around their neck. Their success is for the glory of the country. We are forever grateful to the full support of Philippine Sports Commission,” said Philippine Pencak Silat Association secretary general Inier Candor.
Taking home silver medals were Edmar Tacuel in the Men’s Solo Artistic ( Seni Tunggal Putra ) and the squad of Jessa Pitulan, Dela Cruz Anne, Tolentino Elman and Ziara Mari Oquindo in the Artistic Trio Women’s ( Regu Putri).
The bronze medalists were Alfau Jan Abad – Mens Solo Artistic ( Seni Bebas Putra); Jaciren Abad (Class C), Mark James Lacao (Class D), Ian Chrstpher Calo (Class E), Alvin Campos (Class E) and Joash Mariño Cantoria ( Class G) in the Male Tanding event.
Also taking bronze medals in the Female Tanding were Angeline Viriña (Class A) and Ziara Mari Oquindo (Class B).
The event is part of the preparation of the Philippine Pencak Silat squad to the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games slated for April next year.
There will be 17 Silat events in the biennial meet.