(NI JEAN MALANUM)
DETERMINADO ang national wrestlers na magpakitang gilas lalo na at dito gagawin ang 30th SEA Games.
Matapos ma-scrap sa SEAG calendar sa 2015 (Singapore) at 2017 (Malaysia), magbabalik ang wrestling sa torneo na lalaruin mula Nobyembre 30 hanggang Disyembre 11.
Ayon kay Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) president Alvin Aguilar, 20 events sa Freestyle, Greco-Roman at Grappling categories ang paglalabanan.
“Only 14 events were approved but we requested for additional events. We now have 20 events and if the extra events are finally confirmed, our athletes will deliver a minimum of 10 golds,” paliwanag ni Aguilar.
Ang mga nakaline-up sa grappling ay sina Justin Ceriola, Vince Ortiz at Franco Rulloda sa men’s team at Maybelline Masuda, Aisa Ratcliff at Tin del Rosario sa women’s team.
Sina Ortiz, Rulloda at Masuda ay gold winners sa SEA Championships.
“These are all sure gold winners for our country as they have competed at Worlds level and won,” pahayag ni Aguilar na nasa US kasama sina Ceriola, Masuda at Ratcliff para sa two-month training at competition.
“Our athletes have trained in so many gyms so they can spar with the world’s best per division. They are currently here in Ribeiro, San Francisco under the supervision of San Francisco State All-American coach Jason Welch,” dagdag niya.
Nakakuha ng 10 golds, 4 silvers at 5 bronzes na ang mga atleta matapos na sumali sa Washington Open, Orlando Open and Seattle Open.
“There are two more competitions to go, the Worlds Masters (Aug. 21) and Vegas Open (Aug. 22-24). Our athletes are training twice daily and then competing almost every weekend,” sabi ni Aguilar. Babalik ang team sa Pilipinas sa Agosto 28.
Ang national champion na si Ceriola ay nakakuha ng gold sa Washington Open at Seattle Open.
Si Masuda ang unang Pilipinong world champion at naging gold medalist sa Asian Games.
Si Ratcliff na nakapag-asawa ng Australian ay taga-San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Siya ay national at international champion.
Si Ortiz ang tinaguriang best pound-for-pound athlete dahil nanalo siya sa lahat ng competitions na nilahukan niya sa Pilipinas at ibang bansa. Bronze medalist siya sa 2018 World Championships na ginawa sa Kazakhstan.
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