DAVAO City’s Chino Sy Tancontian kicked off his 2025 campaign with a gold medal for the Philippines at the 51st All Japan Sambo Championships & Japan International Competition, held over the weekend at Sumida-ku Sogo Gymnasium in Tokyo.
The 23-year-old judo varsity scholar from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) dominated the men’s +98kg division, sweeping his matches against Dan Hiramo of Tokai University, Taichin Sasaki of Team Akibahara, and Taishin Ide Shokokuji of Miyazaki Grappling Club.
"Gusto ko po sana maituloy-tuloy pa itong naumpisahan po for this year gearing up for future tournaments kasi po kada nasasalihan ko po na competition makakahelp po talaga para mas maging better sa mga susunod pa po (I want to continue what I’ve started this year as I prepare for future tournaments. Every competition I join helps me improve for the next ones)," Tancontian said in an interview with SunStar Davao.
Determined to stay in top form, the Dabawenyo champion trained rigorously, even working out during the Christmas break before resuming full training in early January.
Tancontian credits his sister, Sydney, a world sambo bronze medalist, with boosting his confidence. The siblings train under national coach Ace Larida, but Sydney coached Chino this time.
"Yung trust po andun talaga kahit naman po kay Coach Ace pero kasi kami po ni Ate Syd kahit sa free time namin nag uusap po kasi kami paano po mag laro kaya alam na alam po namin lalo na ni ate syd yung laro ko at kung ano po dapat ko gawin para manalo at paano mag stay focus while waiting in between matches (The trust is really there, even with Coach Ace. But with Ate Syd and me, we talk about how to play even in our free time. She knows my game so well, and I know exactly what I need to do to win and stay focused between matches)," the multi-sports athlete added.
Tancontian’s latest victory adds to his growing list of achievements. In 2024, he clinched gold at the SJJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Nagoya, Japan, and topped the Grand Prix de Sambo de Paris. He is also a consistent Uaap judo gold medalist.
With a strong start to the year, Tancontian is determined to build on his success as he sets his sights on bigger tournaments. MLSA