Kumpiyansa si national sambo head coach Ace Larida sa malakas na tsansa ng 40-miyembrong pambansang koponan na makasungkit ng mga medalya sa 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships na magsisimula ngayong Huwebes sa Ninoy Aquino Stadium sa Malate, Maynila.
“Lahat sila 100 percent physically and mentally prepared. We trained hard for the last six months since we knew that we were going to host the competition,” ani Larida sa bisperas ng kampeonato na inorganisa ng Pilipinas Sambo Federation, Inc. (PFSI) at hinahandog ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“Philippine sambo will make history starting June 25. Our athletes prepared hard and are ready to do battle,” dagdag ni PFSI chief Paolo Tancontian, na personal na namahala sa paghahanda para sa torneo na may basbas ng International Sambo Federation at ng Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania (SUAO).
Pangungunahan ng mga naghaharing kampeon na sina Sydney Sy at Aislyn Agnes Yap ang host country sa kompetisyong lalahukan ng 22 bansa at halos 500 atleta.
Sisikapin ni Sy na maipagtanggol ang kanyang women’s +80kg sport sambo title, habang target naman ni Yap na mapanatili ang women’s -80kg combat sambo crown sa torneo na isinasagawa sa ilalim ng National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee na pinamumunuan ni PSC Chairperson Patrick Gregorio.
Kabilang din sa inaasahang medal contenders sina Jomary Torres, na kasalukuyang No. 7 sa world rankings at sasabak sa women’s -50kg combat event, at ang promising youth grappler na si Sophia Novino sa women’s -47kg youth category.
Si dating Southeast Asian Games judo bronze medalist Carl Aneseta ay lalahok sa kanyang international debut at nangakong ibibigay ang buong makakaya sa men’s +98kg sports event.
“I am glad Sir Paolo invited me to join this event. Sambo is similar to judo and we did some adjustments. I aim not to let him down,” ani Aneseta, isang Airman 2nd Class, na taga-Davao City tulad ni Tancontian.
“We salute the sambo federation led by its dynamic president, Paolo Tancontian, on a well-organized 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships. We expect this to be another historic international sports event locally,” ani Gregorio, matapos magsagawa ng ocular inspection sa venue kasama sina Tancontian at SUAO secretary general at tournament director Suresh Gopi noong unang bahagi ng linggong ito.
“Five star,” ani Tancontian sa naging obserbasyon ni Gopi sa kahandaan ng torneo.
“With close to 500 athletes from 22 coming from as remote Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the competition underscores the immense popularity of our country as a tourist destination,” ani Gregorio.
Ang mga tiket na nagkakahalaga ng PHP100 bawat isa ay mabibili sa mga ticket booth ng Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Samantala, ang mga hindi makakapanood nang personal ay maaaring tumutok sa sambo.live website at sa Facebook Live ng mga pahina ng PSC at Pilipinas Sambo Federation, Inc.