PH grapplers earn overall title in Olympic Day Celebration

Filipino grapplers from the Wrestling Association of the Philippines captured the overall title in the Olympic Day Celebration held Saturday at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

The national wrestlers compiled 40 points after topping the vortex javelin throw, obstacle course and mixed medley relay at the track oval to topple the elite and developmental athletes from the karatedo and canoe-kayak federations.

WAP also performed well in the three-way, tug-of-war and mixed 4x100m relay during the one-day affair organized by the Philippine Olympic Committee with the technical support of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association and Philippine Sports Commission.

“We hold the Olympic Day Celebration every year to unite our national athletes, coaches and officials in a friendly gathering because we are all part of one big, happy family, which is the POC,” said POC president Peping Cojuangco.

The Olympic Day festivities is an annual celebration of the International Olympic Committee among its member national Olympic committees worldwide.

Also gracing the celebration to promote the tenets of Olympism were IOC representative to the Philippine Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, POC secretary general Steve Hontiveros, former IOC rep Frank Elizalde, POC board members Robert Mananquil of billiards and Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics.

The Philippine Karatedo Federation accummulated 27 points after clinching the gold medals in the 4x100m mixed relay and tug-of-war worth 10 points each and scoring seven points in the obstacle course for the silver medal.

Winding up third among 21 competing teams was the Philippine Canoe-Kayak Dragonboat Federation with 23 points based on its performances in the 3k team run, vortex throw, 4x100m mixed and mixed medley.

National athletes from indoor hockey placed fourth with 17 points, arnis came in fifth with 10 and muay fighters were sixth after collecting three points in the 3k team run.

Other athletes who participated in the event came from taekwondo, ski, badminton, dancesports, artistic gymnastics, aerobics gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics, soft tennis, fencing, dragon boat and tennis.