RP bags 2 golds in World Cup karate

RP’s 10-man team won two gold, three silver and five bronze medals in the 11th KOI Karate World Cup held in Dresden, Germany last July 20-21. The KOI World Cup is an international karate event organized by World Karate Federation (WKF) Referee Council chairman Tommy Morris.

More than 1,200 athletes from 47 countries participated in this year’s World Cup, which was held simultaneously in eight competition mats.

Gold medal winners were the Junior Team Kata composed of Norman Montalvo, Vincent Pante and Roberto Miguel Velasquez and the Senior Team Kata composed of Rex Resurreccion, Stephanie Carol Lim and Joel Mallillin. Both teams performed Chatanyara Kusangku and Runkai in their finals.

Silver medal winners were Raissa Mikaela Velasquez in the Girls Individual Kumite, Daryl Ray Dumayas in the Boys Individual Kumite and Roberto Miguel Velasquez in the Boys Individual Kata.

Due to the large number of participants, most of the gold and silver medallists had to go through six rounds including the final round.

The bronze medals winners were Stephanie Carol Lim in the Women’s Individual Kata, Raissa Mikaela Velasquez in the Girls Individual Kata, the Juniors Team Kumite composed of Norman Montalvo, Vincent Pante and Roberto Miguel Velasquez, and Senior Kumite players Joel Mallillin, -65 kg Kumite event and Homer Panal, -75 kg Kumite event.

The 10-man AAK Team Philippines was coached and trained by Richard Lim and Juan Carlos "Chino" Veguillas.