Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Stick to the fight
HOW popular is a local sport, known to many Filipinos as arnis, to the rest of the world?
One can find out today as more than 500 stick fighters from 27 countries, competing in close to a hundred divisions, troop to Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center to take part in the biennial meeting of arnisadors in the 10th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Championships, which opens this morning.
Apart from known rivals, USA and the Philippines, the other countries taking part in the competition are United Kingdom, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Hungary, Norway, Reunion Island Republic, Spain, Australia, Mexico, India, Hongkong, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Austria, South Korea, Italy, France, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, New Zealand and Guam.
Vengeance
This year, Team Pinoy has geared itself into snatching the overall plum from perennial champions, USA.
The Pinoys, who used to dominate the sport, has been finishing second to USA in the past few world championships and they are determined to change that scenario today.
“Despite having some difficulties in forming the team, Team Pinoy will surely give the opposing teams a hard time,” said Team Pinoy head coach Val Pableo, who is also a four-time world champion.
Sonny Napial, World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (Wekaf) president for USA, said that they will use the techniques taught by the Filipinos to the best of their abilities.
“We accept the challenge because we are here to compete,” said Napial.
Field
USA is fielding more than 100 players while Team Pinoy is planning to field the same number of fighters.
However, Team Pinoy admitted that it will have difficulty in fielding players in heavyweight category in the women’s, men’s, and veteran’s divisions.
It took a year for the Team Pinoy to be created as Wekaf has been holding several qualifying competitions leading up to today.
Today, the formal events will start at 10 a.m. In the afternoon, the program will be highlighted by the attendance of Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, an arnisador himself, to show his support to the Filipino martial arts. (MCB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (July 23, 2008 issue)
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