By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will host the 8th Women’s Martial Arts Festival starting Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The week-long event is part of the government sports agency’s Women in Sports program aimed at empowering more Filipina athletes.
“Ang objective ko talaga is to increase the participation of women athletes,” said project director and Commissioner Bong Coo during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held at the PSC Conference Room Tuesday, Nov. 8.
“Nakikita naman natin nitong nakaraan na talagang karamihan ng nananalo ay kababaihan. Paramihin pa natin yung women athletes and that’s why we are here to support.”
Nine regular sports that include pencak silat, wrestling, sambo, taekwondo, muay, kickboxing, karate, jiu jitsu and kurash, as well as two demonstration sports in arnis and judo will be played.
Competitions will be streamed live on the PSC Women’s Martial Arts Festival Facebook page.
Coo said the goal is to discover more Filipina talents who will follow the footsteps of decorated female athletes such as the country’s first Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, World Games 2022 karate champion Junna Tsukii, jiu jitsu world champions Meggie Ochoa and Kimberly Anne Custodio, and 2022 US Open juniors girls singles titlist Alex Eala.
“We hope that during our term we can help produce more medals for the country,” said Coo in the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
