RP nails 2 golds in Asian muaythai

A compact four-strong Team Philippines did the country proud when it clinched two gold, one silver and one bronze medals in the recent Asian Muaythai Championships in Bangalore, India.

Youthful Romnick Pabalate, a 19-year old STI scholar from Negros Oriental, outpointed Thai Jakkapol Khamollakhorn in the 48kg division finals to emerge as champion in his first ever international outing.

Philippine Air Force’s pride Anna Joy, a 2005 Southeast Asian Games Arnis gold medalist, duplicated Pabalate’s feat, beating on points another Thai, Molthiro Vattanapackdee, in the 51kg female class of her initial international stint in muaythai.

Playing coach veteran Rodrigo Asiong of Baguio City settled for the silver medal when he bowed on points to Iranian Hossein Rokhneh in the 75kg division after winning halfway through the final four rounder.

Only the fourth member of the squad, sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), Eugene Toquero of Cebu City failed to reach the finals as a leg injury forced him to forfeit his semifinal match.

“It is heartwarming that in our very first foray with the Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP) its athletes had already made their mark of excellence. We are proud to be a part of their success,”said Khun Siripong Phoungpaka, PTT president.

MAP chair actor Robin Padilla and president Robert Valdez also lauded the RP bets. “Our boxers have shown before our countrymen in the 2005 SEA Games the Thais are not unbeatable in their own sport. They have done it again and hopefully they continue to do so in Thailand in December during the 2007 SEA Games,” said Valdez.