Charming karateka has guts to annex rare third gold

Two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and former beauty queen Gretchen Malalad hopes to have a date with history as she seeks to become the first Filipino athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in karatedo event of the biennial sports conclave.

Malalad, a semifinalist in th e 2002 Binibining Pilipinas where she won the "Miss Red Bull Energy Drink" and "Best in Talent" awards, leads the Philippines’ charge in the 23rd SEA Games karatedo competition set Nov. 27-29 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

"I hope to make it three because no Filipino has yet achieved this feat in the SEA Games," said the 25-year-old Malalad, who has been training in karate since she was eight years old.

Malalad, bronze medalist during the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, said her five-month training in Naples, Italy and in France under the watchful eyes of former Italian world champion Romano Giuseppe will surely be a big help in her quest for a grandslam feat.

Training alongside Malalad in Italy and France were Junel Perania, Bernard Chu, Ireneo Toribio, Nelson Pacalso, Chirley Tugday, and Joel Gonzaga, who are among RP’s bright prospects to win gold medals.

Malalad contributed one of the seven golds won by the national athletes in the France International Karatedo Championship. She also bagged gold in the Italy Open last May.

"Our training in France was a big help because we learned at lot from our Italian coach. We trained hard for the SEA Games and we’ll give it our best performance to win honor for our country," said Malalad.

Malalad won his first gold medal in an international tournament through the 2001 SEA Games in Malaysia. Her first defense was sensational as she survived a knockdown and a busted lower lip to defeat Ailee Chua of Malaysia via a 4-3 thriller to retain her crown in the women’s kumite (sparring) over 60-kilogram division during the 2003 Vietnam SEAG.

"Definitely, we’ll do everything in our power to win," said Malalad, an AB Communication Arts graduate from the University of Sto. Tomas.

Under the guidance of Filipino coaches Victolero Luna, David Lay, Benjamin Ponce and Victoria Pabillana, the other members of the strong 20-man RP karatedo team are Cebu’s Metante siblings Sugar Ray and Lutche, Jose Mari Pabillore, Homer Panal, Revi Sani, Franklin Kawaen, Emerson Malolos, Mae Esa, Maria Marina Pabillore, Stephanie Carol Lim, Muriel Farinas, and Celeste de la Cruz.

Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) president Edward John Ponce expected them to haul at least seven of the 18 golds at stake in karatedo.

Aside from defending champion Vietnam, tipped to give the Filipino karatekas a tough challenge in the 11-nation athletic meet are Thailand and Malaysia.