After closing out the year in a bang, the national karatedo team hopes that the success will continue next year with three major international tournaments lined up.
Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) secretary-general Raymond Lee is hoping that the national team can sustain the winning run, as it prepares for the World and Asian Championships next year and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.
“Hopefully next year we can still do that,” he said in the weekly PSA Forum in Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday.
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The PH Karatekas recently won gold in the Turkey International Open in Istanbul, with Alvin Pavinfar topping both the individual kumite and individual kata and KC Santiago ruling the women’s individual kata.
Santiago also won bronze in the individual kumite, same with Rexor Romaquin in individual kata.
The team, composed of Romaquin, John Paul Bejar, Carmelo Patricio Jr., and Eugene Dagohoy, also won bronze in the team competitions of kata.
“Actually, the training camp is part of our exposure for our national athletes for the coming international tournaments. We also brought along our young athletes for them to see and compete against the best so they become stronger when it’s there time to compete.”
Parvinfar praised the potential of the Filipino karatekas, saying, “They have good talent, but they have to travel more to make them better than they are now.”