Sweet dream

WINNER. Dabawenya Sydney Sy Tancontian, right, of the Philippines wins this match against Karina Stefanovic of Lithuania in her World Sambo Championships 2018 debut in Bucharest, Romania Sunday. (Paolo Tancontian)
WINNER. Dabawenya Sydney Sy Tancontian, right, of the Philippines wins this match against Karina Stefanovic of Lithuania in her World Sambo Championships 2018 debut in Bucharest, Romania Sunday. (Paolo Tancontian)

DAVAO City's Sydney Sy Tancontian posted two wins after a loss to capture a bronze medal in her World Sambo Championships 2018 debut in Bucharest, Romania on Monday, November 12. It was the country's first ever medal in the tournament.

The 18-year-old Dabawenya, who plans to take Sports Science in college at the University of Sto. Tomas, survived 2-1 victories over older and bigger opponents Mirtha Caridad Nieves of Cuba and Karina Stefanovic of Lithuania in the women's +80 kilograms division.

Tancontian, however, lost to defending champion Anna Balashova earlier. But the latter failed to sustain form as she was dethroned by Georgia's Elene Kebadze in their gold medal match.

She still could not believe her feat, saying, "Parang yesterday it was all just a hope and a dream pero a day po pala can change everything as long as you have the heart to give it your all, with the help of God everything is possible."

Tancontian recalled that she executed an uchi-mata during her match against the Cuban bet then she scored an ippon seoi-nage opposite the Lithuanian.

"Yung mindset ko po talaga in every competition, national or international man, is never back down especially when we have to travel much time going to that place. I believe po kasi if you are enjoying and you have the heart, everything else will follow," the 2017 SEA Games judo bronze medalist told SunStar Davao in a Facebook interview yesterday.

She and the rest of the Philippine Sambo Federation, Incorporated's very lean team took a 14-hour trip from Manila going to Romania.

Her father Paolo, PSFI secretary-general, was elated by his daughter's victory.

The doting father said, "Grabe hindi ako makapaniwala. Toe to toe mga laban nya sa Cuba at Lithuania. Ginabayan talaga sya ni God. Grabe isog gyud pud sya (She was really brave)."

Over 70 countries competed in the World competition yet only few countries won medals.

The Russian Federation was on top, hauling a total of

15 golds, four silvers and five bronzes followed by 4-1-3 Georgia and 2-5-3 Belarus.

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