It’s all systems go for the 10th edition of the biennial World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championships set from July 21 to 25 at the Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center.
This was announced by WEKAF founder and chairman emeritus Dionisio “Dionnie” Cañete during a press conference the other day at NS Pensionne.
Banking on the so-called “homecourt advantage,” Team Philippines is eyeing to regain the overall championship it last won eight years ago.
“The Philippine team players had already undergone qualifying competitions and are now under intensive training in preparation of next month World Eskrima Kali Championships,” said Gerald Cañete, chairman of the organizing committee.
The world championships is considered as the Olympics of Filipino martial arts, where fighters need to go through a series of qualifying competitions from the regional up to the national level in their respective countries.
The RP Team is composed mostly of players from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Cebu, Tacurong, Dumaguete, Ilo-ilo and Leyte.
Around 25 countries have already confirmed their participation in the five-day stickfighting festival.
The organizers are expecting more than 500 foreign arnisadors to join the competition.
The Bulk of the entries are coming from powerhouse United States, which is expected to field in over a hundred fighters. The rest of the delegations will come from Europe, Australia and other Asian nations.
With 90 gold medals at stake, Team Philippines is making sure it has enough players to tap in the different categories that will be contested to shore up its chances of clinching the prestigious title.