After weightlifting, it’s the Muay Thai Philippine youth team’s turn to make waves in the world stage.
With two gold medals already tucked under its belt, Team Philippines hopes to bag three more when the finals get underway on Saturday in the IFMA World Youth Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Competing in the 10-11 female youth 30+kg category, Mara Luz Dagame added a silver to the coffers of Teen Bagsik, which has so far won two golds, one silver and two bronze medals.
The 11-year-old Dagame reached the semifinals before losing to Ladda Zhokhova, 27-30, in the final.
But Dagame will have a chance for the gold when she competes in the final of wai kru event on Saturday.
Also on Wednesday, Keith Margaret Balinas settled for the bronze medal in the 12-13 female youth -38kg division after losing to Kotchakorn Watthakorn of Thailand, 27-30, in the semis.
Balinas paired with Jan Brix Ramiscal to win the gold in the mae mai muay mixed doubles’ category on Tuesday.
Clark Fattit and Edel Ali Ngina bagged the Philippines’ second gold so far after ruling the 14-15 male open division.
Fattit will get another crack at the gold medal of the combat event when he meets Evgenii Ponomarev in the 14-15 male youth -40kg final on Saturday.
The 14-year-old Fattit assured himself of a silver medal after scoring an emphatic knockout win over Ashley Kar Kit Chow in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Jasmine Dagame also gets a chance at gold as she tackles India’s Mary Christine Wriang in the final of the 14-15 female youth -35kg class.