THE Philippine kickboxing team plunges into the 2024 Asian Kickboxing Championships with high hopes at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas (SKP), under its president Sen. Francis Tolentino, aims to surpass its impressive haul of four gold medals from the 2022 event in Bangkok.
Among the top athletes to watch is Olympic boxer Hergie Bacyadan, who is set to make her kickboxing debut in this nine-day tournament.
This year’s competition also serves as a qualifying event for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
“We are sending our athletes in full force to expose them to high-level competition ahead of the SEA Games in Thailand next year,” said SKP Secretary General Wharton Chan.
Leading the charge for the Philippine squad are four gold medalists from the 2022 Bangkok edition—Jean Claude Saclag, Gina Iniong, Renalyn Dacquel, and Jovan Medallo.
Bacyadan, a multi-discipline athlete, who previously competed in boxing at the Paris Olympics, will be testing her kickboxing skills in the women’s 70kg division.
Some of the tournament top contenders include China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia,Thailand and host Cambodia.
The female team will also feature seven other competitors, including 2022 champion Gina Iniong Araos (-56kg low kick), Renalyn Dacquel (-48kg full contact), Aime Ramos (-48kg low kick), Claudine Veloso (-52kg K1), Gretel de Paz (-60kg K1), Chen Yosorez (-50kg PF), and Jana Lavador (form).
In the men’s division, three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jean Claude Saclag (-63.5kg K1) leads a strong team that includes Jeremy Pacatiw (-67kg full contact), Daryl Chulipas (-51kg full contact), Karole Maguide (-54kg full contact), Felex Cantores (-63.5kg full contact), Kurt Lubrica (-51kg low kick), Mikko Camingawan (-54kg low kick), Carlo Buminaang (-67kg low kick), Jansen Pareja (-51kg K1), Gameber Angcaway (-54kg K1), Honorario Banario (-75kg K1), Lance Villamer (-63kg PF), Emanuel Cantores (-63kg KL), Vincent Bartolazo (-63kg low kick), Enrile Amangao (-57kg PF), Whinny Bayawon (-57kg KL), and Jovan Medallo (form).
The national kickboxers have undergone over two months of rigorous training under Dutch coach Walid Hamid, who previously guided the team to success at the 2023 Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.
Training took place at the newly established SKP Training Center in Tagaytay City, a facility developed by SKP president Senator Tolentino, with support from SKP Secretary General Wharton Chan’s WRC firm.
The land was provided by Mayor Bambol Tolentino, who serves as SKP chairman emeritus and is the current president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Coach Hamid, a former world kickboxing champion, has rejoined the team following its successful SEA Games campaign, where the Philippines hauled three golds, four silvers, and eight bronze medals, finishing third overall behind hosts Cambodia and Vietnam.
