105 Filipino athletes to see action in Asian indoor martial arts games

The athletes will compete in kurash, jujitsu, kickboxing, sambo, belt wrestling, regular wrestling, traditional wrestling, taekwondo, weightlifting, bowling, and athletics. (Photo: Ashgabat 2017 5th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games/Facebook)

MANILA— A total of 105 Filipino athletes from various sports disciplines will see action in the upcoming 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) in Turkmenistan from September 17 to 27.

Raymund Lee Reyes, senior official of local karatedo federation, also the deputy chef-de-mission, told sportswriters in a media briefing Monday that the Philippine delegation, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, is composed of 149 individuals including officials.

Reyes said the athletes will compete in 17 out of the 21 sports events. Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz will be the country’s flag bearer. She will see action in the weightlifting event.

Fil-Am trackster Eric Shauwn Cray, a gold medalist (400m) in the 29th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), will also join the local athletes in the 63-nation sports conclave.

The athletes will compete in kurash, jujitsu, kickboxing, sambo, belt wrestling, regular wrestling, traditional wrestling, taekwondo, weightlifting, bowling, and athletics.

The AIMAG, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), is a Pancontinental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia, after the merger of the Asian Indoor Games and the Asian Martial Arts Games.