Rising karatekas vie in World Cup Open

MANILA, Philippines - SEA Games silver medalists Ramon Niño Franco, Rexor Romaquin and James delos Santos, banner a youthful Philippine squad vying in the World Karatedo Federation Karate Cup Open set Aug. 17-22 in Busan, South Korea.

“We want to build up on our modest gains in last year’s Indonesia SEA Games so we are sending a young squad to compete in the WKF Karate Cup Open in Korea,” said Philippine Karate Federation secretary general Raymund Lee Reyes in yesterday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s Malate branch.

Reyes said Franco, Romaquin and Delos Santos, all in their early 20s, were members of the national team that won the team kata silver medal in the Indonesia Games and will spearhead the 21-man squad to the international competition featuring top karatekas from 100 countries.

Joining Reyes in the session presented by Pagcor, Shakey’s and Smart was Iranian coach Ali Parvifar, a sixth dan blackbelt, who said “while we know that the field will be strong in Korea, I’m certain that the Filipinos will do their utmost best to bring honor to the country.”

Among the karatekas joining the national squad is Fil-Jordanian Sharif Afif, a gold medalist in the last POC-PSC Philippine National Games, who will be vying in the men’s -84-kilogram division in kumite (sparring).

“It is a great honor for me to represent the country for the first time in international competition. I have been training hard for this tourna…ment the last three months and want to make my mark in Korea,” said Afif, 19, a sophomore tourism student at Letran College.

The other team members are Rondolf Maraggun (men’s -67-kg. kumite), Princess Joanne Ylanan (women’s -65-kg. kumite), Princess Sicangco (-61-kg. kumite), Mary Antoinette Ailes (-60-kg. kumite) and Gay Mabel Arevalo (-55-kg. kumite).

Competing in the cadet (children’s) division are Bryan Fontillas, Charles Bonaqgua, Mark Andrew Manantan, John Marc Claveria, Kristelle Ira Zabala and Alexander Lay, son of national coach David Lay.

Reyes thanked the Philippine Sports Commission and Zestair for funding the stint of the nationals in the WKF Karate Cup, which he said will serve as a build-up for the Filipino karatekas when the PKF hosts the 2nd World Shotokan Cup scheduled Nov. 8-11 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

“This event is timely exposure for our national squad when they compete in the World Shotokan Cup in November in Cebu City where we expect at least participants from 60 countries,” he said.