THE national karate team is currently training overseas in preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games and the qualifying tournaments for next year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The karatekas were sent abroad by the Philippine Sports Commission for a two-month training and exposure to boost their bid for the SEA Games and the Olympics.
The national kumite team has been training in Turkey since last month under Turkish coach Okay Arpa and will be back by October 30 while the national kata team has been in Japan since last month and will also be back by November.
“The PSC is extensively supporting our athletes’ training, both at home and overseas,” PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said. “Athletes should get their training and exposure.”
Jamie Lim, a mathematics summa cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines and daughter of PBA legend Samboy Lim, is among those expected to win a gold medal in the SEA Games.
Lim won the gold in the minus 68kgs kumite in recent Amator Spor Haftasi karate championship in Turkey.
The country’s other medal hopefuls are Fil-Am Jone Orbin and Fil-Japanese Junna Tsukii and Sheriff Afif, Miyuki Tacay, Rexor Tacay, Ivan Agustin, Mae Soriano, prince Alejo, Sharief Alejo and Eugene Dagohoy.
