The Philippines Women’s Kata Team is set to compete in the Karate World Cup National Team Championships starting today (Friday) in Pamplona, Spain.
Bringing together the world’s top karate teams, the global tournament offers Filipino kata athletes an opportunity to upgrade their skills.
The team is composed of Ricca Torres, Samantha Veguillas, and Allison Quiroga, with the formidable addition of Sakura Alforte, a SEA Games gold medalist and Asian Games bronze medalist in individual kata.
Guiding them are seasoned coaches Sonny Montalvo and Rhodee Saavedra, whose expertise will play a crucial role in their performance.
The team earned their place at this prestigious event with an impressive showing at the Asian Karate Federation Championships, where they stood out for their precision, synchronization, and technical mastery of kata—a discipline centered on the execution of traditional karate forms. Their qualification is a result of years of rigorous training and unwavering dedication.
“This is a historic milestone for Philippine karate,” said Richard Lim, President of the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation. “Competing alongside the world’s best is an incredible achievement. We are immensely proud of our athletes and confident they will represent the country with honor and excellence.”
Drawn into Group D for the round-robin preliminaries, the Philippines will face formidable opponents, including Japan, France, Morocco, and Portugal. With top-tier teams like Japan, Spain, and Italy expected to dominate, the competition promises to be both thrilling and highly competitive.
The World Cup highlights the global talent in Female Team Kata, featuring participants from 20 nations, including 9 European countries, 5 Asian nations, and representatives from Africa and the Americas.
The Filipino team’s preparation has been intense, focusing on perfecting their synchronization, refining techniques, and building mental resilience. With the addition of Sakura Alforte’s experience and achievements, the team is more equipped than ever to take on the world’s best.
“Competing in the World Cup has been a dream for all of us,” said Ricca Torres. “We’ve trained tirelessly, and we’re ready to give our absolute best for the Philippines.”
