By Jaime Joshua A. Frias II
Contributor
ACTIVELY competing in martial arts at a depreciating age of 54 is a tough act to follow.
What more of making the podium’s top-eight in an international event participated by the best there is from the different countries around the globe?
Cagayan de Oro’s legendary karateka Jessica Esparrago shared this euphoric experience after her eight-best finish in the 50-54 age bracket for the women’s kata event of the Funakoshi Gichin Cup 16th Karate World Championship Tournament held October 27, 2024, at the Takasaki Arena in Japan.
The current sports director and Physical Education (PE) instructor at Xavier University is not new to embracing the spotlight after every karatedo competition in and outside the country.
But her best-eight finish in the world championship attended by more than 20 countries in Japan where karate has been developed since less than a century ago is somewhat nostalgic for Esparrago, who is still in a state of savoring its seemingly lasting glory.
“It’s barely two weeks past, but I’m still in Cloud Nine,” Esparrago told Gold Star Daily.
“It’s a different feeling especially that it was slated in mainland Japan,” added Esparrago, citing Germany, Brazil, USA, Canada, Czech Republic, Sweden, England, Argentina, Monaco, South Africa, Philippines, Belgium, Switzerland, Venezuela. Uruguay, Denmark, Colombia, Norway, Paraguay, and host Japan are among the competing countries.
Japan’s own local heroes Izumi Koike and Youko Andou made a spectacular 1-2 finish, followed by Karin Prinsloo of Australia in third place.
It can be recalled that Esparrago was inspired to return to actively competing in international karate tournaments after the long period of boredom-tormenting Covid restrictions.
Last year, Esparrago nailed a gold and a silver in the Master’s Cup of the Traditional Karate Open 2023 in Subic, Zambales, Philippines.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Lord God almighty for keeping me safe and healthy in all my competition. And to my family members who are always there to support me,” said Esparrago.
She also thanked her sponsors, Xavier University, MJN Farm, Café Apollo Home Depot-World Class Furniture, Shihan Tata Dongallo, May Paulson, Cori Liwan, Lourdes Meil Abao, Liezl Araujo Maresh, her two assistant instructors Yanie and Sunshine and friends and fellow teachers for making more meaningful her untiring karate journey.
