Bacolod karatekas shine in Batang Pinoy Visayas qualifiers

Bacolod City’s Chris Cholo Nicoli Salcedo (center) wins gold in the 8-9 years old boys category of intermediate kata during the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifying Leg held in Iloilo City. (Contributed photo via PNA)

BACOLOD CITY — Karatedo players from Bacolod City bagged medals during the Batang Pinoy 2019 Visayas Qualifying Leg held in Iloilo City which ended Saturday.

Young karatekas of A.S.K. Franco Ryu, mentored by Ramon Antoniño Hector Franco and Stephanie Queen Franco, took home three gold, one silver, and six bronze medals.

Gold medalists were Chris Cholo Nicoli Salcedo, 8- 9 years old boys’ category of intermediate kata; Joy Tubongbanua, 14-15 years old girls’ individual kumite; and Zyrhon Vallejera, 14-15 years old boys kumite.

Glayden Jhon Gregorio, meanwhile, took the silver in 12-13 years old girls intermediate kata.

Double bronze medalists were Margueritte Therese Cala-or in 10-11 years old girls’ kumite and advance kata and Hannah Damasco 14-15 years old girls’ intermediate kata and kumite.

Shanzel Vallejera and Bryce TJ Mendones pocketed bronze each in the 8-9 years old girls’ novice kata and 12-13 years old boys’ intermediate kata, respectively.

Also winning medals for Bacolod were the karatekas of Karate Fighting System trained by Randy Mengullo and Elan Delfin.

The girls’ team was bannered by Paulaine Miyu Kalaw who brought home two gold medals in 8-9 years old advance kata and kumite while Shifra Medina captured silvers in 14-15 years old intermediate kata and -47 kgs. kumite.

Medina, with Nichole Margarett Piamonte and Adah Keira Gorriceta, also won silver in team kata.

Piamonte took silver while Gorriceta pocketed bronze in 12-13 years old kumite.

Meanwhile Denisse Martina Atesora was also a bronze medalist in the 10-11 year-old intermediate kata.

In the boys’ category, Carlo Barias and Cziane Cedric Dawa bagged two bronze medals each in advance kata and intermediate kata, and in team kata along with Zohann Francis Kalaw in 8-9 years old category.

The winners in the Visayas Qualifying Leg will compete in the Batang Pinoy 2019 National Finals in October.