Thursday, July 24, 2008 Pinoys stay on target By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
AFTER an erratic start, the Philippine team, or Team Pinoy, found itself well on track to reclaim lost glory in the 10th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation Championships at the Ayala Activity Center.
Late registrations provided a little chaos at the start of the competition with fighters enlisted in different divisions or their names not being called at all.
However, when the dust settled and action resumed, the Filipinos stole the thunder and snatched 20 gold medals and three silvers in the different divisions of the sayaw or forms event in the first day of competitions.
Coming in at a distant second spot is defending champion US, which 10 golds and five silvers in the unofficial medal tally at press time.
Jhon Limutan and Jenny Quimque led the first day gold rush for the hosts—which lost the overall crown to the US in 2004—who collected two gold medals each.
Limutan dominated the non-traditional and tradition double sticks event, while Quimque won in the non-traditional single stick and non-traditional double sticks forms.
Meanwhile, Rochelle Quirol of Tacurong City showcased the form that brought her the gold medal in the 25th Southeast Asian Games (Seag) as she unseated defending champion and crowd-favorite Tamara Delorenzi of Australia in the traditional double stick event.
Quirol won the gold medal in 2005 when arnis was a demonstration event in the biennial Seag.
Delorenzi, who had prepared for this for 12 months, lost because she dropped her stick midway in her routine, an error that cost her dearly.
“It is ok, it happens. There’s still more to come,” said the 19-year-old who gamely shook Quirol’s hands after the verdict was called.
Delorenzi will get a chance to redeem herself when she starts competing in the sparring event.
Thursica Korinthen of Canada took the third place honors in this division.
In another court, Delorenzi’s trainor Yvonne Trigila, also representing Australia, went through what her protégé experienced.
Trigila also almost dropped her stick but managed to recover it before completing her routine to take the gold in her age division.
Meanwhile, a jittery Chelsea Pableo took another gold medal for the Philippine team after winning the girls 10-11 traditional single stick event uncontested. Pableo, the daughter of Master Val, is taking after her father, who is a four-time world champion himself.
