Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Malalad wins gold in Korea Open
PHILIPPINE karate's poster girl is all set and ready for the Doha Asian Games.
In her first international stint this year, three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Gretchen Malalad kicked her way to a gold medal in the 2nd Korea Open Karate Championship held last weekend in Busan, South Korea.
The 26-year-old Malalad ruled the +65 kg. individual kumite event as she overwhelmed her Korean opponent in the finals, 6-0.
Armed with strong kicks never seen before, Malalad made it to the gold medal round after trouncing her Vietnamese foe in the semifinals, 6-2.
Malalad was the Philippines' lone entry in the six-nation competition. National coach David Lay accompanied her in the sojourn supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Accel.
"Her victory showed that she's very much ready for the Asian Games and I'm confident that Gretchen will deliver for us just like what she did in 2002," said Philippine Karate Federation (PKF) head Ed Ponce.
Malalad hopes that she would surpass her bronze medal finish she achieved in Busan Asiad four years ago despite the shoulder injury the 5-foot-7 stunner suffered midway in the tournament.
Other national karate team members who were also preparing for the Doha meet are SEA Games gold medal winners Marna Pabillore and Nelson Pacalso, Bern Chu, Bong Toribio, Junel Perenia, Mae Soriano and kata specialist Noel Espinosa.
Except for Malalad and Espinosa, the rest of the RP karatekas are in Naples, Italy training under foreign coach Giuseppe Romano.
Meanwhile, the Philippine karate team will compete in two European meets that will serve as a tune-up for the Doha Games.
On November 25-26, the Filipino karatekas will be at Iserna, Italy for the Italy Open Karate Championships, where 8 European countries have confirmed their participation followed by the San Marino Open Karate Championships slated on December 1-3.
The Nationals will face Asian powerhouse Iran, Hungary, Netherlands, and reigning world karate champion Italy, in the last competition before they leave for Doha on December 8.
