Ipinagmamalaki ni Richard Lim, pangulo ng Karate Pilipinas Federation, Inc. (KPFI), ang grassroots program ng bansa matapos makakuha ng 2-2-2 golds-silver-bronze sa katatapos na Karate One-Youth League.
Bukod dito, sa Pilipinas idadaos muli ang torneo sa Pebrero 2027.
Anim na kalahok sa under-14 ang sumungkit ng medalta, na pinangunahan nina Kathleya Elaine Bustamante at Francis Erl Jud Abundo.
“I’m very happy with the two golds, two silvers and two bronzes. Ito na ‘yung result ng aming grassroots since I became the president of Karate Pilipinas,” ani Lim sa pagtatapos ng Karate One Youth League noong Linggo sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City.
Ang sunod-sunod na pag-oorganisa ng mga lokal na torneo, tulad ng Karate Pilipinas Champions’ League, ang naging daan para sa kahanga-hangang performance ng mga batang karateka.
“We have a program. We have sanctioned tournaments and events. This is a very clear result of a good grassroots program so napakasaya ko rin kasi lumabas ‘yung pinaghirapan namin,” dagdag ni Lim.
Silver medalists sina Dean Montalbo at Alexa Vallesteros, at bronze medalists sina Kaylani Vergara at Ashana Sabote.
Sila ay ikinokonsidera para sa first Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games na gaganapin sa Pilipinas sa 2027.
“These winners are also the same players who will most probably be in the Southeast Asian Plus Youth Games here in Manila in 2027,” ani Lim.
Nilinaw ni Lim na hindi niya minamaliit ang performance ng mga Pilipino sa cadet at junior divisions kahit mabigo silang makakuha ng kahit isang medalya.
“I was expecting some winners also in the under-17 and under-15. It’s just the breaks of the game. I’m not saying they’re not good,” dagdag niya.
“They’re all good. Talagang itong U-14 ang sinwerte.”
Pinuri ni Antonio Espinos, pangulo ng World Karate Federation (WKF), ang pagho-host ng Pilipinas sa Karate One-Youth League.
“Antonio Espinos himself told me we gave them more than what they are asking for, so ibig sabihin noon, na-exceed namin ‘yung expectation nila,” sabi ni Lim
Nagkasundo ang WKF at KPFI na muling idaos ang Karate One-Youth League sa Pilipinas sa susunod na Pebrero, imbes na sa Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
“I hope that, coming February next year, we will be able to duplicate our results today,” ani Lim.