The national karatedo team will have a new kumite coach.
Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said the change will take place because of the request of members of the national team.
The national squad, headed by team skipper Eugene Dagohoy, forwarded their request to the Philippine Sports Commission.
The replacement will happen following their arrival from a two-day training camp in Japan.
“The athletes requested for a change. There will be a new one,” said Fernandez.
Iranian coach Ali Parvintar will now have to give way to Jin Tsukii, who was a national coach 20 years ago.
His daughter Juna Tsukii is former member of the Japanese national team, and will be part of the four-member national squad to the Asiad.
The young Tsukii, a 27-year-old karateka whose mother is a Filipina, will compete in the -50 kilogram division of the kumite where she ranks among the favorites. She made her debut playing for the national flag in the 29th Southeast Asian Games with a bronze medal finish.
The other members of the national kumite squad are Ram Macaalay (-60 kgs), Mae Soriano (-68 kgs) and Miyuki Taccay (-68 kgs).
Five are supposed to go. But Malaysian SEA Games silver medalist Rexor Taccay suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while competing in the recent PSC Philippine National Games in Cebu City.
James de los Santos is the lone bet in the kata event.