TOL VIEWS
The Philippine Kickboxing team’s dominating performance at the recently concluded Asian Kickboxing Championship in Phnom Penh, Cambodia proved once more that given the much-needed support in training, facilities and equipment, Filipino athletes can rise to glory in international sports.
Our kickboxers’ victory attests to the Filipino brand of sportsmanship, discipline, hard work, determination, and the many other values that create and shape world class champions.
Jovan Medallo led the PH Kickboxing team, winning two gold medals in the Musical Forms with Weapon and Musical Form Open Hand events. Paris Olympian Hergie Bacayadan, who clinched gold in the women’s 70kg K1 division is working her way once more for hopefully another appearance in the Olympics by building up momentum in the Asian Championships.
Other Filipino kickboxers who brought pride to the country were Carlo Von Buminaag (Gold 67kg Lowkick Male category), Gina Araos (Gold, 56kg Lowkick Female division), Honorio Banario (Silver, 75kg K1 Male category), Janah Jade Lavador (Bronze, Musical Form with and without Weapon and Creative Form with Weapon), Felex Dave Cantores (Bronze, 63.5kg Full Contact Male), Lance Airon Villamer (Bronze, 63kg Point Fighting Male), Whinny Bayawon (Bronze, 57kg Kicklight Male), Daryl Chulipas (Bronze, 51kg Full Contact Male), Claudine Veloso (Bronze, 52kg K1 Female), and Renalyn Dacquel (Bronze, 48kg Lowkick Female).
The medal tally for the Philippine Kickboxing team ended with five golds, one silver, and 10 bronze medals. The Philippines’ Asian Championships performance also cements the PH Kickboxing team’s appearance in the regional championships, and hopefully, at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
While kickboxing may have a relatively recent history in the Philippines, it continues to gain popularity among young Filipino athletes alongside other martial arts and combat sports events.
The success of Filipino kickboxers in international sports competitions inspires rising athletes to likewise train, sharpen their skills, and establish a stronger footing for the Philippines in the international kickboxing scene.
As kickboxing now enjoys broader following, we likewise call for broadened support from both the government and the private sector. As president of the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, our vision for PH Kickboxing is grand because our athletes’ potential in the sports is much larger than we have seen.
Our Filipino kickboxers deserve to be recognized for the heart they put in every strike and kick they unleashed in the name of our country’s honor. There is no better way to reward them for bringing pride to the nation than by enabling kickboxing to take deeper roots in Philippine sports and ensuring that the sport will grow and flourish for generations.