Muay nangako ng 6 ginto ng 2019 SEA Games

SINAGOT ni PSC commissioner Celia Kiram (ikalawa mula sa kanan) ang tanong mula sa sports media sa ginanap na Usapang Sports forum na hatid ng Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) sa National Press Club sa Intramuros, Maynila Huwebes. Dumalo rin sa nasabing forum (mula sa kanan) sina Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia Carrion, TOPS president Ed Andaya, Muay Association of the Philippines national coach Preciosa Delarmino at international muay technical official Mardel Claro.

BILANG host, inaasahan na hahakot ng mga medalya o di kaya masusungkit ng Pilipinas ang overall championships sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games na gaganapin sa Nobyembre 30 hanggang Disyembre 11.

At isa sa mga national sports association na handang maghatid ng medalya ang Muay Association of the Philippines (MAP) na nangako na mag-uuwi ng anim na gintong medalya para sa bansa.

“Pinaghahandaan na ng Muay Association of the Philippines ang darating na SEA Games kung saan may 11 events ang muay,” sabi ni national coach Preciosa Delarmino sa ginanap na Usapang Sports forum ng Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) sa National Press Club sa Intramuros, Maynila.

“We have a chance of winning the gold in more than half of the events, especially the women events.”

Ang tinutukoy ni Delarmino ay ang women athletes na sina Rudza Abubakar ng Zamboanga sa 45-kg at Jenelyn Olsim ng Baguio sa 54-kg division ng combat event.

Sinabi rin niya na ang tambalan nina Mariah Trenyce Co at Rusha Mae Tarrate ng Baguio ay pinapaboran din na mauwi ang ginto sa wai kru (Thai boxing dance) event.

Nakasama naman ni Delarmino sa weekly forum na suportado ng National Press Club at Philippine Sports Commission si Mardel Claro, ang kauna-unahang international muay technical official ng bansa.

Dinagdag naman ni Claro na ang MAP ay naglatag na ng mga serye ng torneo dito at sa labas ng bansa bilang paghahanda ng mga muay athletes na sasabak sa SEA Games.

“We have the Arafura Games in Australia in April, the IFMA (International Federation of Muaythai Amateur) Senior World Championship in Bangkok, the World Martial Arts in Korea in August, the IFMA Youth in Turkey in September and of course, the SEA Games in November,” sabi ni Claro.

“Locally naman, we have the Visayas leg in Cebu next month, Mindanao leg in Butuan in July, Luzon leg in Olongapo in April, the Beach Games in Iloilo also in April, the Southern Luzon and NCR leg in June, Women’s Martial Arts Festival in October and PSC’s Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games. All the medalists here will compete in the national championship which was moved to February because of the SEA Games schedule.”

Dumalo rin sa Usapang Sports forum sina Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Celia Kiram at Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion na nagsalita tungkol sa tagumpay ng women in sports nitong 2018 at ang plano nilang magdaos ng Women’s Sports Summit sa Marso.

Isa sa mga programa ng PSC na sinusuportahan ni Kiram ay ang Women’s Martial Arts Festival na biglang sumikat sa nakalipas na limang taon.

“In my first year as PSC commissioner there were about 500 participants in the Women’s Martial Arts Festival,” ani Kiram. “Last October, it balooned to 1,600. That is why I want this program institutionalized so that we can get more funds from the PSC and bring this festival to Visayas and Mindanao also.”

Nabanggit din ni Kiram na ang MAP ay ang isa sa mga grupo na todo-suporta sa Women’s Martial Arts Festival.