Thursday, July 19, 2007
Karatekas eye Asian event
FOLLOWING its successful exploit in the International Open Championships in Italy last month the Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) is again gearing up for another stint, this time, in the Asian Karatedo Championships in Malaysia next month.
As of the moment, however, the team is still in a quandary as it is still looking for well-meaning hearts that could help
them in another quest for glory.
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“PKF will be sending a team to Malaysia, but as of now, we could not finalize the lineup because we are dependent on the budget that the PSC will release,” said PKF marketing director Raymund Lee Reyes after yesterday’s meeting with PKF president Eduardo Ponce.
As of now, PKF’s request for funding is still awaiting the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) approval.
“If we will still lack the money, our fallback will be to send the 10-man team that is currently training in Italy,” Reyes added.
The team in Italy is RP’s toughest bunch in kumite and are training for the 24th Southeast Asian Games. Last month, they won six golds and three bronzes in the competition that had participants from Italy, France, Israel, Denmark, Holland and
Austria.
They are due back home next month and if PKF’s budget will not allow it to send a team from the Philippines to Malaysia, those in Italy will be taking a side trip to Malaysia.
If they have the funds, the kata team here, which has Cebuano Rhodee Ann Saavedra, could take part in the Malaysia tilt as well.
There are three more players in the kata event and the team kata led by another Cebuano Noel Espinosa.
Members
The members of the team currently in Italy are Mae Eso Soriano, Cherli Tugday, Rolando Lagman and Michael Dumayag who all won gold medals in the individual category.
Alma Cabasal, Esperanza Manansala are the other RP team members who won a gold together with the two other ladies in the women’s team kumite event.
Ramon Franco, Erlando Metante, Jose Mari Pabillore topped the men’s team kumite event.
After Malaysia, the team will be looking forward next to the Sea Games in this December in Thailand. In 2005, the RP team won three gold medals. (MCB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 19, 2007 issue)
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