After a 12-year title jinx, Filipino fighters regain eskrima supremacy

CEBU, Philippines - Hosting the 12th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) Championship proed satisfying and rewarding for the Philippines as the lion-hearted Filipino fighters claimed the oerall title of the biggest and the most prestigious eskrima tournament in the world in dominating fashion.

Phl, thus, ended a 12-year title drought in the biennial eent that features the combat sport that is extra special to the hearts of the Filipino people haing traced its humble beginnings here particularly in Cebu.

After two days of grueling action, the Pinoy arnisadors recorded an oerwhelming tally of 134 medals broken down into 62 golds, 36 silers and the same number of bronze medals.

Phl last won the oerall championship in 2000. During the last time the country hosted the eent four years ago at Ayala Center Cebu, it lost the crown to United States by just one gold medal.

“Our happiness is beyond measure now that we hae regained the oerall championship after 12 years of waiting. Haing restored our lost pride and honor in the indigenous martial art that is close to our heart is a monumental feat that surely brought great joy in all of us,” said outgoing WEKAF International president Master Gerald Cañete.

Among those who figured prominently for the Philippine Team were triple gold medallists Reynaldo Combate, Trixie Mary Lofranco and Florito Fernandez.

Combate won golds in the super middleweight diision of the single and double stick as well as in the team sparring eent, while Lofranco stamped her class in the 8-9 years old single stick non-traditional open forms, team synchronize and 6-7 years old single stick.

Fernandez, on the other hand, scooped golds in the single stick light middleweight, double stick middleweight and team sparring.

Dethroned champion United States is a faraway second with nine golds, 10 silers and fie bronzes, while Reunion Island of Framce came in third with nine gold, siler and bronze medals apiece.

Rounding up the top 10 finishers were New Zealand (6-5-2), Australia (5-3-7), Poland (4-0-0), Hungary (3-7-2), Canada (3-4-3), Norway (3-4-0) and Ireland (2-3-5).

Meanwhile, Hungary will host the 13th edition of the WEKAF Championship in 2014.