Baylon, at 54, shoots for gold in SEA Games

Two-time Olympian and Southeast Asian Games judoka legend John Baylon will come out of retirement to compete in a different sport – kurash – in the 30th SEA Games in December in San Fernando, Pampanga. It could also be his last hurrah. Baylon, at 54 years old, is expected to rely on his vast experience after seeing action in two Olympics in Seoul in 1988 and Barcelona in 1992, and being a nine-time SEAG gold medalist in judo as he is set to compete against younger foes in the men’s -81kg division.

Kurash is similar to judo but instead of the combination of throwing and grappling in the latter, the former only involves throwing.

And this is where the experience of Baylon, who retired from judo eight years ago after failing to win a SEAG medal in Jakarta but still regularly competes in Brazilian jiujitsu and judo where he is a black-belter from time to time, comes in.

Other gold medal prospects are Allan Llamas (men’s -66kg), Dennis Catipon (men’s -73kg), Estygay Liwanen (women’s -63kg) and Sydney Tancontian (women’s +70kg).

Also in the Phl roster are Jellou Mosqueda, Rick Jason Senales, Dither Tablan, Helen Dawa and Bianca Estrella with Roland Llamas as head coach.

It will be the first time that kurash will be played in the SEAG after making its debut in the Asian Games in Jakarta last year. It was also played in the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Game in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan two years ago and Asian Beach Games in Vietnam also last year.

The Philippines hopes it could cash in with gold medal performances from Baylon and company.