SEA Games 2023: Robin Catalan clinches PH’s second kun bokator gold

Robin Catalan captures Kun Bokator gold in the SEA Games 2023.

MANILA Philippines — ONE Championship fighter Robin Catalan beat Indonesian Ade Permana to win a gold in the men’s combat 50-kilogram class in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Kun Bokator on Monday at  Chroy Changvar Convention Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Catalan delivered the country’s 17th gold and second in Kun Bokator — traditional martial arts in Cambodia — joining Angel Gwen Derla, who ruled the women’s single bamboo shield form of the sport.

The 32-year-old Catalan also took down Sovan Nang of Cambodia with a 58-52, 18-13, 22-38 decision in the semifinals.

Besides the veteran MMA fighter, the Philippines also got two bronze medals from team/trio events.

Derla, the winner of the women’s single bamboo shield form, finished with a bronze medal in the women’s bare hands form (Team/Trio) competition with her teammates Shara Jizmundo and Jess Dela Cruz.

Zandro Jizmundo, James Mayagma, and Rick Ortega also nabbed a bronze in the men’s bare hands form (Team/Trio) event.

Earlier, Phillip Delarmino, Ryan Jakiri, and Godwin Langbayan also bagged bronze medals in their respective events.

Delarmino placed third in the men’s combat 60kg after dropping a 3-0 decision to home-bet Chet Chon in the semifinals.

Jakiri settled for bronze in the men’s 65kg semis after falling to Vietnam’s Van Cuong Huynh, 3-1, while  Langbayan also failed to make the final in the men’s 70kg semifinals following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Vietnam’s Duc Ngo.