Filipino karatekas shine on opening day of 22nd Asian Karate Youth tilt

Philippine bets impressed in front of the home crowd as two karatekas seized medals during the country's kick-off of its hosting of the 22nd Asian Cadet, Juniors, and Under-21 Karate Championships on Friday at the PhilSports Arena.

Filipina karateka Ailec Rei Cervan shone with a silver medal performance in the cadet kumite -54kg while Sebastian Manalac picked up a bronze medal in the cadet kata male event.

Cervan fell short of the title after stumbling against Japanese ace Wakana Karikomi in the gold medal round, settling for a second place finish in the 15-person field.

Manalac, on the other hand, took home one of the two bronze medals alongside Sultanov Sultonbek of Uzbekistan as another Japanese representative in Takeru Hamazawa captured the gold while Yaqoub Bu Khawwah settled for silver.

Aside from these two gold medals, Japan has also taken home the gold in cadet kata female from Wakana Ito, cadet kumite male -70kg from Takeru Ogawa, and cadet kumite male 70+ kg from Arashi Chiba.

Japan also imposed its will in the two team events with its kata team cadet and junior female and kata team cadet and junior male ruling their respective divisions.

The competition, which aims to bring a number of rising karate aces across the continents, will run until Sunday at the same venue.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News