Philippine kickboxing team assured of 8 medals in Vietnam SEA Games

The Philippine kickboxing team has assured the country of at least eight medals in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam to boost the campaign for overall title defense.

Leading the nationals is Zephania Ngaya, who drew a bye for a guaranteed silver medal in women's 65 kg class of full contact. She will face the winner between Huyinh Thi Aikvee of host Vietnam and Jessie Yothawan of Thailand in the final slated for Friday.

Renalyn Dacquel is also assured of at least a silver medal after she pulled off a 3-0 victory over Thailand's Kanwara Boonpeng in their women’s full contact -48 kg class semifinal on Tuesday night.

Gretel De Paz is set to face either Le Thi Nhi of Vietnam or Pieter Fiandra Ariesta of Indonesia in the gold medal round of the -56 kg, also of women's full contact on Wednesday.

Claudine Veloso will clash with Vietnamese Bui Hai Linh in the semifinals of the 52 kg women's low kick class while Gina Iniong meets Malaysian Radzuan Hayatun Nahijin in the semifinals of 60 kg women's low kick event.

Four more Filipina kickboxers also assured themselves of bronze after drawing byes as well.

The Philippines is competing in 39 of the 40 sports programmed by the Vietnam organizers and of these 39 sports, the country is participating in 44 disciplines.

The country is eyeing to defend the overall championship after ruling the 2019 edition on home soil where Filipino athletes bagged 149 gold, 117 silver, and 121 bronze medals.

—MGP, GMA News