By Anthony Giron TAGAYTAY, Cavite – This tourist destination ridge city is fast gaining popularity as sports training hub. This developed as Cavite 8th District Representative Abraham N. Tolentino, chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee and concurrent 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games sports director, and some other sports officials led the recent opening at the city proper of the first gym and office of the Samahang Kickboxing sa Pilipinas (SKP), the country's national kickboxing association. The kickboxing gym is the first in the country. Lawyer Wharton R. Chan, SKP secretary-general, said that the gym was opened after the National Sports Association (NSA) and SEA Games officials have recognized kickboxing as an amateur sport game. "We opened the gym for kickboxers, it's historical as it is the first time that the NSA and SEA Games officials have approved kickboxing as an amateur game. The NSA recognized kickboxing only last month (January)," the 33-year-old Chan said. The 150-square meter gym, with a 12-by-12 meter kickboxing ring, punching bags. speed balls, other equipment, big wall mirror, shower room and display cabinet for a start, is at the top level floor of a fast-food chain building near the Ninoy Aquino rotunda on Aguinaldo Highway. Tolentino confirmed Chan's claim, citing that kickboxing is now one of the newest competition games that was included in the list of 56 sports in the SEA Games, which will be hosted by the Philippines from November 30 to December 11 this year. At least four designated hubs will serve as hosts for the SEA Games namely Metro Manila, Clark in Pampanga, Subic in Zambales and the BLT (Batangas, La Union and Tagaytay). The Games will be participated by 11 member-countries in the region namely Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, East Timor and Brunei Darussalam. "We are preparing for the SEA Games this early as this is the biggest sports event in the region. At least 10,000 athletes from the member-countries will be competing for various events. The region's best athletes will be competing here (the country)" Tolentino said. The SEA program is composed of Category 1 sports namely archery, badminton, baseball/softball, basketball, billiards, bowling, boxing, canoe/traditional boat race, chess, cycling, dance sport, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, handball, hockey, ice hockey, ice skating, judo, karatedo and modern pentathlon. The Category 2 sports are muay, pencak silat, polo, rowing, rugby sevens, sailing/windsurfing, sepak takraw, skateboarding, shooting, soft tennis, squash, surfing, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu. The sports in Category 3 are arnis, e-sports, floor ball, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, kurash, lawnbowls/petanque, netball, obstacle course, sambo, underwater hockey and wake boarding. The national government has earmarked P17.044 billion for the hosting of the 30th SEA Games edition. (Anthony Giron) In an interview over the weekend, Tolentino said that Tagaytay may well become a sports training ground for local athletes in the next few years with the sports developments in the city. Some outdoor and indoor sports such as cycling and chess have been staged in the city now and then. Tagaytay is a highland city in Cavite's 8th District that comprises also eight municipalities. It is the top tourist destination in Region IV-A or the Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) area. Tagaytay is frequented by local and foreign tourists due to the panoramic view of Taal Volcano Lake, other scenes, cool climate and clean environment and the proximity to the National Capital Region. The ridge, only about 52 kilometers from south of Metro Manila, have virtually everything for visitors in terms of accommodation, foods and other needs. "They say that high land or altitude is best for the lungs and resistance most specially for the athletes," a sport trainer said. Tagaytay ridge is about 20,000 feet above sea level The latest addition to the city in terms of sports is the gym and office for the SKP's kick boxers, trainers and coaches and those who wish to learn kickboxing. SKP Officer Chan said that there are about 500 kick boxers belonging to 20 groups in the country. Chan said that the gym will be used for the selection of the Filipino best kickboxers or "qualifiers" who will vie in the SEA Game. When asked about the chances of Filipino kick boxers winning medals against the Thailanders and Vietnamese, Chan said "it's big." "We have a lot of good and strong kick boxers, we have a big chance in winning the gold," Chan said. Tolentino seconded, saying "overall, speaking of medal standing, we can win 100 or even more gold medals with our athletes in martial arts and other sports." The 2019 or 30th SEA Games is notable for being the first edition to include kick boxing and e-sports as well as having the highest number of sports in the history of the games at 56.