Pinoys to compete in World Muay Thai Championships
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 19 Jun 2011
Eight veteran Muay aces, six in the men?s division and two in the distaff side have been chosen to represent the Philippines in the 2011 World Muaythai Championships set Sept. 20-27 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Headed by 2008 World Championship silver medallist Jay Harold Gregorio and 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games gold medal winner Zaidi Larvan, the national squad will be trying to at least repeat the four gold medal haul their predecessors brought home in the previous editions of the world tourney.
Baguio City boy Brent Velasco and Roland Claro had stashed away a pair of gold medals each in separate stints in the World Championships with the former doing the trick in the 2002 and 2004 editions, while the latter in the 2004 and 2008 staging.
National coach Billie Alumno, himself a veteran internationalist during his prime, having won the country?s lone gold medal in the 2005 Asian Indoor Games, said during Friday?s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session that this year?s squad has what it takes to duplicate Velasco?s and Claro feats.
?Besides having a taste of international competitions, this team will undergo at least a three-month training in Bangkok from July to September before proceeding to the World Championships, ? Alumno told members of the Sports Communicators Organization of the Philippines in the public service forum, sponsored by Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines, FILA and TV-5.
Gregorio, competing in the 67-kilkogram division, and Larvan, a 60-kg. campaigner, will be joined in the team by Jonathan Polosan (63.5-Kg), Benedict Alumno (54-kg.), Ryan Jakieri (57-kg) and Robin Catalan (48-kg), in the men?s competition.
May Libao, bronze medalist in the 48-kg. in 2009 SEA Games, and Preciosa Ocaya, another bronze winner in the 51-kg. class in 2009, made it in the women?s team.
?Sayang at walang muay in the coming SEA Games, sana malaki ang tsansa na makapag-uwi ng maraming medalya ang mga bata natin,? the coach said.
Polosan took home the gold medal in his category in the 2008 Prince Cup in Thailand, while Alumno, Jakiri and Catalan ruled their respective division in the recent Philippine National Games.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
Fri, 04 Jul 2025International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 04 Jul 2025Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Fri, 04 Jul 2025Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 03 Jul 2025No issues with fight ref
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 03 Jul 2025Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
Thu, 03 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 03 Jul 2025ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
Wed, 02 Jul 2025TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
Wed, 02 Jul 2025Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
Wed, 02 Jul 2025