CAGAYAN de Oro City — Cagayan de Oro karate athletes returned from Davao City with 23 medals, showing the depth of local talent at the 3rd JKA Philippines International Gasshuku and Tournament.
Representing the JKA School of Karate, JKA NKK CDO and XU-JKA, the CDO delegation won six gold, six silver and 11 bronze medals during the four-day event held August 27-30 at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium.
Gold medalists included Lexi A. Quirante, Jace Carbajosa, Kharla Lea Daque, Zoey B. Origenes, Walter Troy Donasco and Maiko Anya O. Pasa.
Several CDO athletes reached the podium in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring).
Ivan Larrazabal won gold in Intermediate Kata and added bronze in Intermediate Kumite, while James Vincent Uy took gold in Novice Kumite and bronze in Novice Kata.
In the advanced divisions, Donasco won gold in Advanced Kumite. Aloysius Valmores and Geraldine Galang added silver and bronze, respectively, in their Advanced Kumite categories.
The silver medalists were Juancho Augusto D. Marquiño, Ace Gregory V. Taleon, Andrew James Natividad, Vince Chevi Lacar, Frank Mariano and Obed Salamanca.
Other members of the CDO delegation also contributed to the bronze tally, including Hannah B. Drubbels, Matt Andrei O. Pasa, Rafael Joaquin S. Ompad and Zackary Arn.
Beyond the medal count, the event gave the local athletes more experience through a combination of training sessions and competition.
Team leaders said the gasshuku helped athletes build confidence, gain valuable mat experience and develop camaraderie with karate practitioners from other areas as they prepare for higher-level national and international competitions.
For CDO's young karatekas, the 23-medal haul provided both a podium finish and another step toward bigger competitions ahead.
