Jamie Lim, a summa cum laude graduate of the University of the Philippines and daughter of PBA legend Samboy Lim, is among the gold medal hopefuls in the karate competition of the coming 30th SEA Games.
Showing her championship pedigree, Lim captured -68kgs kumite gold in the recent Amator Spor Haftasi Karate Championship in Sakarya,Turkey.
Lim’s feat, according to Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez, is good indication of her possible domination in her weight class in the SEA Games, along with Filipino-American Jone Orbin and Filipino-Japanese Junna Tsukii and Sheriff Afif.
Other medal hopefuls include Miyuki Tacay, Rexor Tacay, Ivan Agustin, Mae Soriano, Prince Alejo, Sharief Alejo and Eugene Dagohoy.
The karate team is still training overseas not only for the coming SEA Games but also for the Olympic qualifying tournaments for next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games.
The PSC sent the karatedo squad abroad for a two-month international training and exposure to ensure their good performances in the SEA Games and the Olympic qualifying tournaments.
The kumite team has been training in Turkey since last month under Turkish coach Okay Arpa and will be back on Oct. 30 in time for peaking and the last stages of training preparations for the biennial games on Nov. 30 to Dec.11.
The national kata team has also been training in Japan since last month and will also be back November in time for the SEA Games.
“The PSC has extensively supported ourathletes’ training, both at home and overseas,” Ramirez said. “We are not dropping our chances. Athletes should get their training and exposure.”
