Combat athlete Fitzchel “Chuchay” Fermato bagged the bronze medal in the 54kg female category to cap Team Philippines’ campaign in a jubilant fashion at the World Vovinam Championships at Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
The youngest member of the team at 18, Fermato expressed delight when given the chance to show her skills and improve at the world level.
“Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng mga sumuporta sa laban ko at sa mga nanood lalo na po sa familya ko na laging naka-support. Salamat sa opportunities, sa susunod po gold na ito,” said the pride or Rizal province.
Fermato was the silver medalist in the same weight category in kick light event of kickboxing in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games last May.
She will be a Young Hero awardee for kickboxing in the coming Siklab Youth Sports Awards set at Market! Market! in Taguig City on Monday.
The Philippines thus wrapped up its campaign with three bronze medals, a silver and a gold in the sport that originated in Vietnam. Vovinam is a combat sport that combines the techniques of taekwondo, karate, wushu, and boxing.
Emmanual Cantores bagged a silver in men’s 60kg combat vovinam. At the same time, two more bronze medals came from Jovan Medallo in the men’s Sun-Moon Broadsword event and Janaha Jade Lavador in the women’s artistic forms.
“The future is definitely bright for Vovinam Viet Vo Dao in the Philippines,” said Vovinam Pilipinas Secretary General Jop Malonzo, who joined the trip supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Malonzo also thanked Philippine Olympic Committee president Mayor Bambol Tolentino PSC Commissioner Walter Torres for the support and guidance of Vovinam Pilipinas president Mariano Michael Velarde.