Pinay karateka sets eyes on Olympics
ANATIVE of Canelar Triplet, Zamboanga City, Heiddy Chloe Angeles, 19, is beauty and brawn shining in her chosen sport of karatedo. Angeles is a member of the Philipdefense. I remember I was crying that pine Typhoons, the national team of time because I really wanted to play badthe Philippine Karatedo Federation minton,” Angeles told The Manila Times. (PKF). National coach David Lay and But after a while she fell in love PKF Secretary- General Raymund Lee with karate. Reyes seeing her active participation as “Eventually, I see myself enjoying the a member of the Zamboanga City Kasport. And the people in the karate rate Association recruited her. community are very approachable that
Angeles revealed that karatedo was not is why it easily became my passion,” her first love as an athlete. she said.
“I started to play badminton at the age For now, her dream of becoming a of six. When I turned eight years old, my policewoman has taken a backseat as she father taught me karatedo, which accordis focusing on representing the country ing to him would be useful for self- in international competitions.
A Philippine National Games veteran, Angeles knew though the importance of having a good education.
“If given a chance, I would like to go back to school. I really want to make my mother proud of me,” said Angeles.
Angeles wants to follow her father’s footsteps and become a police officer but looks up to her mother as a source of inspiration to achieve her goal.
“Why? Because she really strives to give what is best for us after being separated from my father four years ago. She finds a way in everything and she never gives up.”
“Like her, I will not give up until I reach my goals,” said Angeles, whose goal as an athlete is to become an Olympian.
“Maybe the time that I will stop playing karate is after I competed in the Southeast Asian Games and Olympic Games because that really is my goal, to land and compete there for our nation,” she said.
Reyes believes that Angeles has what it takes to achieve her dreams.
“Actually, they are all entitled to participate and dream to go there (Olympics). She is doing her best because during our recent training camp, she excelled in all the activities and improved compared before,” said Reyes.
As a parting shot, Reyes hopes that Filipinos would learn to appreciate the sacrifices of athletes instead of criticizing them whenever they suffer loss in international competitions.
“It is hard for each athlete to be away from their loved ones. That is their biggest sacrifice just to represent our nation. We are hoping that our fellow Filipinos will help us to achieve greater heights in our future endeavors,” Reyes concluded.