AS some member-associations of the Dabaw Sports Council, Inc. failed to submit their nominees for the 24th So Kim Cheng Awards, Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao's Ian Carlos Pascual and Atsuko Kaiyel Tan will be feted as athletes of the year (AOY) awardees.
Tan will receive her third straight SKC citation on July 22 at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
John Irene Del Campo, representative of So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation, during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum held at The Annex of SM City Davao Thursday, said, "She will receive her grand slam award. The eight-year-old purple belt karateka will also become part of the Hall of Fame."
Tan won a silver medal in the 7th Vietnam Open Karate for kata girl's 6-8years old in Hanoi, Vietnam, and silver in the 10th Kota Kinabalu Open Karate Championships in Malaysia. She also clinched two goldsin the 6th Adidas International Karate Cup at the SM Mall of Asia and two golds in the SM Milo Super Karate Kids National Age Group Championships held at SM Seaside, Cebu.
Tan's father, Rommel, thanked SKCSF for recognizing his daughter's accomplishments
"Syempre happy but I don't think she is ready for the Hall of Fame award, she is too young for that. But I'm always grateful," the AAK Davao chief said.
Ian Carlos Pascual, meanwhile, bagged two golds in the 10th Kota Kinabalu Open Karate Championships in Malaysia and in the 6th Adidas International Open Karate Cup at SM Mall of Asia recently.
Jerson Tamayo of the Dabaw Sports Council Inc. said 17 athletes from 27 local National Sports Associations (NSAs) will also receive special citations.