Phl’s Franco bags silver in Tehran meet

MANILA, Philippines - Showing improved form as a result of his intensive training in Iran, national karateka Niño Franco bagged a silver medal in the men’s -55-kilogram division of the recent Tehran Karatedo Championships held in the Iranian capital.

Franco, who is part of the nine-man squad in Iran preparing for the 27th Myanmar Southeast Asian Games, won three straight matches by scores of 5-0, 3-0 and 8-0, respectively, before dropping a 0-2 decision to his tough Iranian foe in the finals.    

Teammate Michael Badil also copped a bronze in the men’s -75-kilogram class while the other Filipino bets who saw action in the event were Engene Dagohoy and Jayson Macaalay.

“Our karatekas have improved greatly since they began training in Iran, which should boost their medal chances in the SEA Games,” said Philippine Karatedo Federation secretary general Raymund Lee Reyes, who came back from Iran last weekend after monitoring the training of the athletes.     

Reyes added that he also met with Iran  Karatedo Federation officials, who assured him of all-out support for the national squad.

He thanked Eduardo Martin Menez, the Philippine Ambassador to Iran, for extending his assistance to the team when it paid a courtesy call at his office.   

Reyes cited Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. and PKF president Joey Romasanta for making the training stint of the national team possible.