THE Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP) will shift its focus in two international events next year, including the upcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).
With most of national and regional sports meet cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, SKP is setting its sight in SEA Games hosted by Vietnam and the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games.
Bryan Scott Olod, chairperson of ring sports of the SKP, said the two events were the focus of their discussion during the World Association of Kickboxing Organization (Wako) International Federation Ring Sports Refereeing Seminar/Webinar along with two other Filipinos, including a fellow coach from La Trinidad, Benguet.
Olod said SKP was also updated on the new rules of kickboxing that will be applied in upcoming tournaments it will join and host.
"The new rules will be used in upcoming events of kickboxing. It should have been used in the Juniors World Championship this November but the tournament was canceled due to the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019)," Olod said.
Olod, who founded the Kafagway Mixed Martial Arts based in Benguet, added the new rules will also be applied in SEA Games (SEAG) where kickboxing is one of the 36 events and the Asian Indoor Games.
Olod, Noriel Acquiso of La Trinidad based, and Roselyn Hung of Cagayan de Oro who is the chairperson of SKP's Mat Sports of Kickboxing and SKP technical head, were part of the webinar representing the SKP.
They were endorsed by the national sports association's chairman Senator Francis Tolentino and Secretary General Wharton Chan.
"We discussed updates on Wako technical rules specifically in ring sports, as well as discussions of Wako programs during this pandemic," Olod said.
The webinar, conducted by Wako president Roy Baker of London, England, was attended by more than 100 technical officials from all over the world.
Olod is the only Filipino licensed as an international technical official for kickboxing and has assisted Northern Luzon Kickboxing Area Governor Mark Sangiao of the famed Team Lakay in training Cordillera athletes. (With a report from PNA)