The Philippine Teen Bagsik of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines (MAP) brought home six gold medals, one silver and two bronzes from 1st World Martial Arts Mastership in Jincheon, South Korea.
The Filipino gold medalists, who made the country proud in the international event for young fighters aged 17 years old below, are Lian Benito (girls 16-17 years old, 48kgs), Mariah Trenyce Co (girls 14-15 years old, 48kgs), Rudzma Abubakar (girls 16-17 years old, 48kgs), Islay Erika Bomogao (girls 16-17 years old, 45kgs), Ghen-Yan Berdon (girls, 15-16 years old, 48kgs) and Bryan Siglos (boys 16-17 years old, 63.5 kgs).
Kristian Narca bagged the silver in the boys’ 16-17 years old, 48kgs category, while Rosemarie Recto (girls 16-17 years old, 48kgs) and Felix Cantores (boys 16-17 years old, 60kgs) won bronze medals.
They arrived on Tuesday night and proceeded to the PSC Youth and SDGs Workshop at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City to demonstrate their skills before youth guests from Southeast Asian neighbors.
Then they gamely answered questions from members of the PSC-POC Media Group during the FB Live Sports Chat.
They were accompanied by head coach Billy Alumno who said that the youth team will banner the Philippine Team Bagsik in the next Southeast Asian Games, which will be hosted by the country in 2019.
“Basta tuloy tuloy lang ang ensayo at bigyan sila ng maraming exposure sa competitions, tiwala ako na kaya nilang magbigay pa ng karangalan sa bansa,” Alumno said during the weekly program supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Lee Ariel Lampacan, fresh from a rousing victory in the World Muay Thai Council Charity Championship in Hong Kong, joined the youth team in the program to provide inspiration.
“Basta lagi lang kayo ensayo, may mararating kayo,” said Lampacan, while holding aloft his belt, which he won after beating hometown hero B. Kwok in the final of their bantamweight tussle.
“Talaga ang saya ko nung tawagin ako bilang winner sa taas ng ring.:
MAP Secretary-General Pearl Managuelod has mapped out a busy schedule for the fighters next year, including trips to the World Championships, World Youth, Asian Beach Games and the Asian Championships.
“The athletes are getting enough support for their training and competitions. Muay thai is a practical application. Kailangan tuloy tuloy,” Managuelod said.