Some of the members of the Philippine Arnis team competing in the 2019 SEA Games.
The low-profile yet action-packed sport of arnis could very well be the gold medal machine Team Philippines needs in the coming 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, president of the Philippine Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation, said that though the sport doesn’t get media mileage like the others, it could produce 11 to 12 gold medals in the biennial meet.
That could be a major boost for the Philippine campaign, which is tipped to land in the top three overall.
“There is pressure for us to deliver, especially because arnis is the national sport, national martial art,” Zubiri told the Inquirer on Thursday.
Arnis competitions start on Dec. 1 at Angeles University Foundation with eight gold medals at stake in men’s and women’s live stick events.
“The country could get eight golds right on the first day,” Zubiri added.
Eight more golds will be contested on Dec. 2 in padded sticks, and four more on Dec. 3 in forms.
“That’s a total of 20 golds in arnis. We are pushing for the overall championship and we’d be happy to win 11 to 12 golds,” Zubiri added.
The Philippines will field a 20-strong arnis team.