HOPEFUL. A file photo shows Jenna Kaila Napolis after winning the gold medal at the Cambodia SEA Games last May. Napolis, a bronze medalist in the recent Hangzhou Asian Games, will lead the Philippine campaign at the World Combat Games scheduled from Oct. 20 to 30 at the King Saud University Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Philippines will send 19 athletes to the 2023 World Combat Games scheduled from Oct. 20 to 30 at the King Saud University Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medalists Jenna Kaila Napolis (ju-jitsu) and Jones Inso and Clemente Tagubara Jr. (wushu) will lead the campaign in the tournament to be held in the Middle East for the first time.
"I will do my best," said Napolis, who ruled the women's -52kg event during the Cambodia SEA Games last May.
Also competing are SEA Games gold medalists Agatha Wong (wushu) and Gretel De Paz (kickboxing), silver medalist Renalyn Dacquel (kickboxing) and bronze medalists Philip Delarmino (muay thai) and Darius Venerable (taekwondo).
Others in the line-up are Fierre Afan and Maria Aisa Ratcliff (grappling); Rudzma Abubakar, Islay Bomogao, Arnel Lampacan, Alyssa Mallari, Edzel Ngina and Rhichien Yosorez (muay thai); Justin Kobe Macario and Faye Crisostomo (taekwondo); and Thornton Sayan (wushu).
"I'm sure we will deliver. We're sending several world champions and world-ranked athletes," said wrestling association president Alvin Aguilar, who will serve as chef de mission of Team Philippines, on Thursday.
A total of 1,657 athletes (913 male and 744 female) from 80 countries will compete in 16 sports, namely aikido, boxing, fencing, judo, ju-jitsu, karate, kendo, arm wrestling, kickboxing, Muaythai, sambo, savate (French boxing), sumo, taekwondo, wrestling and wushu.
Wrestling has the most number of entries at 288 followed by fencing (144), ju-jitsu (136), aikido (100), arm wrestling (96), karate (96), kickboxing (96), Savate (92), sambo (88), taekwondo (88), Muaythai (88), judo (84), sumo wrestling (80), wushu (80), Kendo (69) and boxing (32).
The inaugural Para Combat Games will also be held with 56 athletes (38 male and 18 female) entered in ju-jitsu (24), arm wrestling (16), Muaythai (8) and sambo (8). (PNA)
