Ilonggo fighter Philip Delarmino made the country proud after an astonishing gold medal finish in the International Federation of Muaythai Associations World Muay Thai Championships in Phuket, Thailand.
The native of Iloilo City showed a scintillating performance to cap another gold medal around his neck. To recall, Delarmino also took home the gold medal in the finale of the men’s elite 57-kilogram category that paved the way for his qualification to the 2022 World Games.
Unstoppable, Delarmino again went atop the medal podium, this time with Islay Erika Bomogao in the coed mai muay event.
Bomogao seized the female waikru gold while Aldrich Toralba claimed the silver medal in the waikru male, jacking up the final medal tally of Team Bagsik to three gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
According to Muay Thai Association of the Philippines secretary general Pearl Managuelod they expected more medals, but they are very proud of the accomplishments of the team overall.
Aside from a gold medal win, Bomogao also pocketed a bronze medal in the under-23 female elite 45kg together with Rudzma Abubakar, who placed third in the under-23 female elite 48kg.
Mai muay is a choreographed dance event while waikru is the muay dance. Both events are full medal disciplines in the world championships.
With the victory, the Ilonggo pride grabbed a spot to the 2022 World Games on July 7 to 17 next year in Birmingham, Alabama, along with Aleksandr Abramov of Russia, who the 31-year-old from Iloilo City defeated in the finals.
“We are hoping to qualify two more athletes in the World Games. We will host a regional qualifier here sometime in March. It’s a Super 4 format with three other countries,’’ said Managuelod.IMT Sports
