Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) – Karate is expected to be one of the main medal sources for the Philippines in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.
Karate Sports Pilipinas Federation president Richard Lim said a total of 17 Filipino karatekas will represent the country in the competition scheduled on May 18-20.
“We intend to duplicate or surpass our performance (in 2019),” Lim said in a recent radio interview.
The Philippine karate team took home two golds, one silver, and nine bronzes in the 2019 SEA Games held in Pasay City.
2019 SEA Games gold medalists Junna Tsukii (-50kg) and Jamie Lim (-61kg) will spearhead the women’s kumite team, along with bronze medalist Mae Soriano (-55kg) and Lemon Misu (-68kg).
Previous SEA Games bronze medalists Ivan Agustin (-84kg) and Jason Macaalay (-60kg) will lead the charge in the men’s kumite with Mathew Manantan (-67kg), Prince Alejo (-75kg), and team kumite members Eugene Dagohoy and Oliver Mañalac.
Joco Vasquez and Ricca Torres will be the country’s bets in the individual kata categories.
Naoki Alforte, Laurence Nopre, and Felix Calipusan banner the men’s team kata while Torres, Sara Pangilinan, and Nicole Dantes head the women’s team kata for the Philippines.
The Philippine karate team held a training bubble in Baguio City and has continued its preparations at the Joy Nostalg Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig before they depart for Hanoi.
“We’ve been training hard since last year and we all help each other,” said Lim, the world number 22 in her division and a silver medalist in the 2021 Asian Karate Championships.
