Davao karatekas to compete in Singapore

THE eight-member TKS Petron-AAK Davao/Team Philippines leaves for Singapore today to compete in the Karatedo Goju-kai Singapore 30th Anniversary Asia-Pacific Open Championship which kicks off Saturday.

Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao Chief Rommel Tan will be the team coach and assisting him is Homer Panal.

Post your reaction to the Manila hostage crisis

Top youth karateka Jhon Albert Albarico, who won two gold medals in the same tournament in 2009, is expected to come up with another fine showing this year.

His elder brother Jeofrey is also entered in the team, along with Sebastian and Allona Regis, Kassandra and Oona Barnes, Carmela Marie Estarija and Pretie Joy Goc-Ong.

The Davao karatekas will see action in the kata and kumite individual children boys and girls seven to nine years old and 10-12 years old, individual cadet for boys and girls 13 to 15, individual junior men's and women's 16-17, individual open men's and women's open.

Aside from the Philippines and Singapore, countries competing are Chinese-Taipei, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Russia.

Tan said the Philippine Sports Commission headed by its chair Richie Garcia and Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. is supporting their trip.

Also backing up the AAK-Davao team are Mike and Esther Te of TKS Petron, Kenneth Sai, Dexter So, Ricks Carwash, Penongs, AAK-Davao parents and the University of Immaculate Conception.

"We would like to thank them for the support they have givent to the team," Tan said.

Gold, silver and bronze medals await winners of the annual karate tournament. (MLSA)