World muaythai champion Philip Delarmino is one of the 24 candidates from around the world nominated for the 2021 World Games Athlete of the Year.
The Muaythai Association of the Philippines is calling on Filipinos and global supporters to support the nomination of the national team captain by joining the online voting on this website: https://www.theworldgames.org/…/Athlete-of-the-Year.
Voting begins on Jan. 10.
What made Delarmino’s nomination special was that it’s the first time that a Filipino and a muaythai athlete is considered for the prestigious award by the World Games, an international multi-sport competition that holds sports events that are not contested in the Olympic Games.
The games are held every four years, a year after the Olympics.
The World Games has announced Delarmino’s nomination through its youtube channel.
The 31-year-old Ilonggo captured the men’s -57kg diadem in the 2021 IFMA World Muaythai Championships in Phuket, Thailand.
He beat Russian Alexander Abramov in the championship round to secure the gold. On the way to the final, he stopped India’s Laishram Bidyachandra Singh in two rounds, before beating Javad Vahid Reza of Sweden on points in the quarterfinals.
Then, he defeated Kazakhstan’s Almaz Sarsembekov in a tight semifinal contest to arrange the final duel with Abramov.
“Ang pagkapanalo ko pong ito ay sobrang memorable kasi ito na po ‘yung pinakamataas na competition namin, it’s a world championship and lahat po ng mga tumalo sa akin dati ay nabawian ko sila this time,” said Delarmino, who has been with the national team for 10 years.
For Delarmino, the victory would mean a better life for his family.
“Inaalay ko siyempre una kay God sa lahat ng blessings at sa talentong binigay nya sa akin, I know it’s his way para makatulong ako at masuportahan ko ang family ko at makapagbigay din ng karangalan sa ating bansa,” added Delarmino, who is also an enlisted Philippine Navy personnel.
The victory also earned him a slot in the World Games set July 7 to 17 in Birmingham, USA.
Who knows? God willing, he might be the Athlete of the Year by then.
