THE lean three-member Philippine Vovinam Team represented by players from Cebu pulled off a decent finish in the recently concluded fifth Southeast Asian Vovinam Championships held in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar last Aug. 7-12, 2018 by bagging one gold, one silver and one bronze medal.

Kirstine Hope Baguio bagged the gold medal in the women’s Thap Tu Quyen ( Forms) by besting players from Laos and Indonesia. She got a bronze medal in the Women’s 54 kg Doi Khang (full contact sparring) in her first international exposure in this sport. Cedric Ho Bolnero also finished with a silver medal in the men’s 72kg. Doi Khang, where he managed to beat a Cambodian player on his way to the final round. He lost to a player from Myanmar. Eight countries participated in the championships

Vovinam is the national martial art and sport of Vietnam and has been played twice in the SEA Games. It includes events in Quyen ( forms), which are performed both unarmed and with traditional weapons, as well as Doi Khang (full contact sparring) using punches, kicks and throws. The first Vovinam school in the Philippines was established in Cebu and is supervised by master Quy Tran. (PR)