More than 600 women athletes, coaches and officials attended the opening rites of the 8th Women’s Martial Arts (WMA) Festival held at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum (RMC) Saturday.
The historic RMC was all lit up and alive on what is the first big multi-sport event hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in the said facility after the onset of the pandemic., PSC Chairman Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala and Commissioner Olivia “Bong” Coo, were present to witness the participants march and take their oath of sportsmanship during the said ceremony.
“Today is a significant moment in the PSC calendar, because today not only marks the 8th Women’s Martial Arts Festival, it also marks a time when we finally see face-to-face athletic competition especially, in combat sports. It is also a day where we reopen our home in the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) for our athletes to compete once again, in our facilities. And most of all, it is significant because today is where women in sports take center stage,” said Eala.
Coo said the martial arts festival is held, with the goal of helping our national sports association and national athletes prepare for the 6th Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
The AIMAG opens exactly 365 days after the PSC WMA Festival closes on Nov. 17.
Pencak silat, karate and jiujitsu will start competitions today. In Jiujitsu, nine medals are up for grabs and will be awarded by the end of competitions today.
The RMC will stage the competitions of pencak silat, taekwondo, sambo and wrestling. The PSC Multi-purpose Gym, formerly known as Ninoy Aquino Stadium, will be the playing venue for muay thai, kickboxing, karate and arnis (demo), and kurash, jiu jitsu and judo (demo) tournaments will be at the Judo Training Center.
Games will be streamed live at the PSC’s YouTube channel and the PSC WMA Festival FB page
The event is sponsored by Pocari Sweat Otsuka Solar Philippines Inc.
