Local judokas off to Singapore for tilt

THREE OF Baguio’s upcoming judokas will once again carry the country’s flag as they compete in the International Cadet Judo Championship at the Bedok Sports Hall, 3 Bedok North Street 2, Singapore.

Slated August 18-19, the Baguio judokas, who will compete in the two-day tournament, are Franz Darren Kim of University of Baguio, Franz Jedd Andre Kim of SLU High School and Dereck Klarence Dino of the Baguio City National High School.

The event is sponsored by the Singapore Judo Federation and is only given to selected National Judo Federation and Association members worldwide.

This is only one of the tournaments the Cordillera Judo Association is looking forward to aside from joining in local tournaments.

“Sad to note, we can only send three players at this time. CJA is technically at its infancy and we really need to still establish our support base,” said CJA in a statement.

Incidentally, the parents of the three CJA judokas will shoulder the cost for their participation.

“I hope that people of Baguio will again find its appreciation of Judo. I am looking at re-establishing the time when judo as a sport is synonymous to the people of the Cordillera and Baguio in particular. With this event our players will represent not only Baguio City or the Cordillera, but the entire Philippines,” said CJA president Vonne Villanueva.

Previously known as the National Age-Group Championships, the International Cadet Judo Championships brings in the best of each country's under-21-years judokas to Singapore to compete for championship gold.

The tournament is seen to have spectacular matches with memorable finishes and throws which are unique to the Judo martial art.