PH junior karatekas bag 16 gold medals

PRINCE Andreen Zipagan hammered out a sweep of all of his four junior events, leading an impressive campaign for Team Philippines in the 2nd ISK World Shoto Cup Karate Championships held recently at Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

Zipagan, standing just a shade below 5-foot-5, bagged the gold in the 16-17 boys individual kata and kumite, before leading the Filipinos to another golden double in the team kata and kumite championships.

With the accountancy student from University of Santo Tomas holding the fort, the Filipino junior karatekas amassed 16 gold, 14 silver and eight bronze medals overall in the two-day event.

Cunning and clever, Zipagan used his experience to down the taller Canadian Victor So, 2-0, in the kumite.

Zipagan scored with a right punch to the chest and a reverse punch to complete the domination of his rival.

Double-gold winner Alexander Lay and Orly Banagua also sparkled for the Philippines, which also bagged the gold in the junior team kata, besting Argentina and the United States.

The Philippines leaned on Zipagan, John Paul Bejar and Rommil Orenciana as it outpointed Argentina, 2-1, in the finals to bag the kumite gold.

Also winning gold medals for the Philippines were Francesa Lim (girls’ 16-17 individual kata) and Marimar Fontillas (girls’ 16-17 kumite).

Lim, Fontillas and Camaich Lao overpowered Argentina, 3-0, in the finals to bag the girls kumite gold.

The Philippines’ haul could still increase as Fil-American bet OJ delos Santos was set to dispute the gold in the men’s individual kata event. Cedelf Tupas