PH karatekas grab 6 gold medals in Thailand

MANILA, Philippines: The Philippine national karate team clinched six gold medals at the 11th South East Asian Karate Federation Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, held on April 24 to 26.

Sebastian Neil “Bashy” Mañalac was the first Philippine gold medalist of the tournament, after winning the –70 kilogram Cadets Kumite event, defeating Thailand’s Thanadet Thanatthanakorn. This was followed by Joan Denise Lumbao at the –59 kg Women’s Junior Kumite, after defeating another Thai, Thananya Pisin.

PH karatekas grab 6 gold medals in Thailand

Asian Games bronze medalist Sakura Alforte also won the women’s individual kata event at the tournament, giving the country its third gold, prevailing over Vietnam’s Nguyen Ngoc Tram. Fellow Filipino Rebecca Torres won a bronze medal for this event.

Arianne Brito would later give the Philippines its fourth gold, winning the +68 kg U21 Kumite event over Malaysia’s Faizal Mirza Binti.

Alwyn Batican topped the men’s individual kumite event, giving the country its fifth gold, after beating Vietnam’s Lo Van Bien for the title.

Kirk Riverz Zamayla gave the country its sixth and last gold medal of the tournament in the men’s U21 – 55 kg event, after he defeated Truong Nam Tien of Vietnam.

The country’s lone silver medal came from Jamie Lim, the daughter of the late basketball legend Avelino “Samboy” Lim, after she bowed to Vietnam’s Hoang Thi My Tam in the – 61 kg individual senior female kumite event.

“Winning six gold medals is a fantastic achievement, and it’s wonderful to hear that all the players are safe and injury-free. Your support and prayers undoubtedly contributed to their success,” Karate Pilipinas said in a Facebook post on Friday night.

At the end of the tournament on Friday, April 26, with six gold medals, one silver medal, and 16 bronze medals, the national team finished in fourth place behind Indonesia, hosts Thailand, and overall champions Vietnam, who finished the tournament with 21 gold medals, 21 silver medals, and 32.