Big haul for local karatekas

The Philippines finished fourth overall in the just-concluded 15th KO1 Karate World Cup, winning five golds, nine silvers and 31 bronzes at the SM Megamall last weekend.

Powerhouse Russia scored an expected romp in the two-day event and won the overall championship with eight gold medals while Vietnam and Japan brought home six golds apiece. Malaysia placed fifth with four golds, three silvers and three bronzes.

Pocholo Veguillas, chairman of host AAK, said the RP team’s performance was satisfactory considering that in the past two KOI World Cup tournaments in Germany and Greece, they won only two medals.

Filipino gold medal winners were Miguelo Avenido in the 8-year-old boys’ kumite, Kristoffer Nebrija 9 years old boys kumite, Miguel Velasquez (15 boys’ kumite), Raissa Velasquez (12-13 girls’ kumite) and Rebecca Torres (10-11 girls’ kumite).

Other countries that won medals were: New Zealand (4-3-1), Iran (3-5-5), Egypt (2-5-8), Kazakhstan (1-2-6), Italy (1-0-2) Kuwait (1-0-0) Latvia (1-0-0) Netherlands (1-0-0) Australia (0-2-1), Europe Selection, (0-1-0), Chinese Taipeh (0-0-3), Fiji (0-0-3), Singapore (0-0-3), Germany (0-0-1) and Slovenia (0-0-1).

KOI president Tommy Morris also expressed satisfaction with the way the hosts staged the championships, hinting that they might bring back the event here in 2006.

The KOI Karate World Cup was sponsored by The STAR, SM Megamalls, Pepsi, Milo, Accel, Panasonic, ASUS Notebook, PC Island Photo, Largeformatics, Jollibee, Paramount and the Department of Tourism.

The next KOI WorldCup will be held either in Russia or Kuwait. — Joey Villar