Philip Delarmino looks to emerge triumphant in the world championships. —Inquirer file photo
Muay fighters Philip Delarmino and Ariel Lee Lampacan are no strangers even to the toughest opposition that they might encounter in the world championships.
And these formidable warriors from Team Bagsik are raring to reach the medal podium of the ongoing International Federation of Muaythai Associations World Muaythai Championships in Phuket, Thailand.
“The toughest fighters from around the world are here and they will not allow themselves to get beaten,’’ said Delarmino, who seized bronze medals in the annual world championships thrice.
The stakes, however, just got higher for this year’s world staging of the biggest event in muay thai as it serves as qualifier to the World Games in the United States in July next year.
An impressive output for Delarmino and Lampacan will likewise be important since the extremely physical combat sport known as the “art of eight limbs’’ is now recognized as an Olympic sport.
The International Olympic Committee granted full approval to the sport, allowing muay thai to see action in the 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“It’s a dream to fight in the Olympics. I’m looking forward to qualifying and representing our country,’’ said Lampacan, the Benguet pride who ruled the men’s 54-kilogram division of the 2018 world championships in Mexico.
Delarmino, the Southeast Asian Games men’s 57kg champion, is also as good as advertised after claiming the Asian featherweight crown of the World Muay Thai Council at the expense of hometown bet Zakaria Eljamari early this year in Dubai.
For now, they are totally focused on bringing home at least a silver in the ongoing world championships to book a ticket to the World Games.