50 players join Wushu tourney
SOME 50 players are seeing action in the 1st Robinsons Place Tagum Open Wushu Sanda Tournament set on August 6 in Tagum City.
King's Sword Martial Arts director Nell Jone Astudillo during yesterday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at SM City Davao Annex, said the event's objective aims to provide a regular open wushu tournament which will serve as training ground for athletes before competing in national games.
"Makakapag-handa sila sa mga malalaking events like the Philippine National Games (PNG), Batang Pinoy (BP), and Palarong Pambansa 2017," Astudillo said.
A total of 12 teams from different areas including Davao City, Digos City, Kidapawan, General Santos City, Tagum, Bacolod, and Iloilo have already registered.
Wushu players from Tagum City and Davao City are expected to further elevate the intensity of the competition, following their stints during the Palarong Pambansa 2016 in Albay, Bicol.
Asturdillo, for his part, is hopeful that his players can win titles in the tournament.
The wushu tournament features the boys and girls 13 to 15, 16 to 17 and 18 above age-group categories.
"Mostly sa mga sumali were MMA players, since close yung rules ng Sanda sa MMA. You can box, kick or even throw pero walang submission and pound." Astudillo said.
Organizers will apply international rules as well as safety pre-cautions.
"I went to China last June for my international judging course fortunately nakapasa naman so we will apply that. The players will also wear head gears, chest armor, shin guard and boxing gloves since standard na talaga yan." Astudillo said.
Astudillo also applied the international category in choosing the weight divisions.
"We have 12 weight division including the 39 kilograms, 42kg, 45kg, 48kg, 52kg, 56kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg, 75kg, 80kg and 85kg. But I will just clarify it by next week kung ano talaga final selection for categories kasi baka may mga changes in the details," he added.
The event is presented by the King's sword martial arts in partnership with Tinagan Martial Arts, and sponsored by the Robinsons Place Tagum City. ABM