THOUGH Sydney Tancontian will have her hands full with the upcoming Philippine National Games (PNG) set early next month and then the Batang Pinoy Games also slated this year, the Dabawenya is really bent on playing for Team Philippines again in the SEA Games, Asian Games and even the Olympics.
At 15, she recently captured a silver medal for the country in the 2015 Southeast Asia Senior Wrestling Open Championships held in Singapore.
"Maganda po naging experience ko sa Singapore. First time ko pong maglaro for the country. Kahit may kaba at hirap, naglearn pa rin po ako sa mga laro ko. Syempre, gustong-gusto ko pong maglaro para sa Pilipinas, lalung-lalo na sa Olympics," the Davao Central High School student said during Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex events center of SM City Davao.
The be-medaled multi-athlete, who started with judo then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, said wrestling is also a challenging sport. She incorporates her judo skills in wrestling, even using a judo throw before pinning her Singaporean opponent in the SEA Senior Wrestling Open Championships.
Tancontian said, "I'm really grateful to be given the chance to play wrestling and represent the country. I hope they get me again for SEA Games or Asian Games. I'm very much willing to train with the national team whenever I need to."
The SEA Senior Wrestling Open Championships was organized since wrestling was scrapped in the 28th SEA Games but SEA member countries also competed in the open tournament.
Tancontian added that she will still continue to play judo since she started eight years ago but she will also get serious in her wrestling training.
"Mas marami po kasi ako magiging exposures sa international competitions with the national wrestling team. Gusto ko rin po talagang matuto pa sa mga susunod kong magiging competition ko with them," she said.