OLYMPIAN Hergie Bacyadan, a versatile Filipino combat athlete, is set to claim a medal in her fourth martial arts discipline.
Competing in the Women’s Full Contact -75kg division at the 2024 Asian Kickboxing Championship, Bacyadan is already assured of a bronze medal, with only four competitors in her category.
Bacyadan, who previously competed in boxing at the Paris Olympics, has a diverse martial arts background.
She is a former national wushu athlete and a world champion in vovinam, a Vietnamese martial art.
With a semifinal victory over a Cambodian opponent, Bacyadan has the chance to upgrade her bronze to gold.
She would then face the winner of the Kazakhstan vs. China bout in the final.
A proud native of Kalinga, Bacyadan bagged a silver medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, where she suffered a controversial loss to Vietnam.
However, she redeemed herself with a gold-medal finish at the World Vovinam Championship in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Joining Bacyadan in the tournament, organized by WAKO Asia, are fellow Filipino athletes Jean Claude Saclag, Jovan Medallo, Gina Iniong Araos, and Renalyn Dacquel.
They aim to replicate their golden performances from the previous edition in Bangkok, Thailand in 202. The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas has sent a 27-strong team to this event, which also serves as a qualifier for the next World Games.
