MIXED martial arts star Mark Striegl will eye a second Southeast Asian Games gold medal when he leads the four-man combat team in the Cambodian ethnic sport of kun bokator that will make its debut in the 32nd Cambodia SEA Games next month.
“Striegl will see action in the men’s under-70kg class and I believe he has good chances of winning the gold,” national coach Ace Larida said, adding that three more Pinoy bets will compete in the combat event of the sport to be held on May 3 at the Chroy Changvar International Convention Center.
Striegl won his first gold in the men’s 74kg division of sambo during his debut in 30th Philippine SEA Games at the Araneta University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center gym in Angeles, Pampanga.
Also seeing action in the combat event are Ruben Catalan, Jenny Bulaong and Marian Mariano in the men under-50kg, women’s under-60kg and women’s under-55kg divisions, respectively.
In the non-combat events, the members of the team are Jasper Jay Lachica, Mark James Lacao, Jeremae Beato, Jude Mitz Jalandoni, Angel Gwen Derla and Shara Julie Jizmundo.
“You also have pre-match rituals before the athletes can actually compete. It is quite colorful,” Larida said.
“At least 70 percent of the moves and throw in kun bokator are similar to sambo since you can also use the elbows, knees and takedowns,” noted sambo chief Paul Tancontian, who expressed optimism all four athletes would fare well considering their strong MMA backgrounds.
“However, you cannot underestimate the Cambodians because they have some elite strikers,” he said.
Tancontian said the team can also do well in the non-combat events especially after two of them won gold medals in the recent test competition held in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.
Allysa Kylie Mallari ruled the women’s spirit performance division while Rhichien Yosores emerged tops in in the women’s gold barehand event.
“They (Cambodians) really want to promote kun bokator, and you can see how they really supported their athletes during the test event with their loud cheering. I expect this will be one of the highlights of the Cambodia SEA Games,” Tancontian said.
