Gina Iniong leaned on her veteran savvy to give the country another gold to highlight an outstanding performance by the country in the kickboxing event as the 2019 Southeast Asian Games comes to a close.
Iniong, a mainstay of Team Lakay and a Globe Ambassador, withstood the aggressive start of her Thai opponent Apichaya Mingkhwan, 3-0 to win the gold medal in the women’s 55 KG Kick Light category.
Iniong, a veteran mixed martial arts athlete who switched to kickboxing just for the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games, took her time to frustrate and even knocked down her Thai opponent several times in posting the convincing win.
“Hindi nasayang ang hirap at pagod namin sa training lalo na first time ko lumaban para sa bayan at dito pa sa kickboxing,” an elated Iniong said after her gold medal winning performance at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Iniong wins gave Team Lakay a total of three gold medals in the biennial event.
Teammate Jean Claude Saclag went all out against Mohammed Bin Mahmoud to win the gold in the men’s 63.5 KG Low Kick category.
Jerry Olsim earlier won the gold medal in the men’s 69 KG Kick Light finals after outclassing Sarayut Klinming, 3-0.
“It has been a wonderful Southeast Asian Games experience for Team Lakay and our athletes. Not only they brought honor and fame for Globe, Team Lakay delivered and did their part to ensure that the Philippines will reign king once more in the region after several years of frustrations and defeats. They made our countrymen proud. Kaya naman pala talaga pag sama-sama tayo,” Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO added.
Aside from the three gold medals, Renalyn Daquel gave the Philippines the silver in the women’s 48 KG kickboxing category. Jomar Balagui also took home the silver in men’s KG low kick bracket while Karol Maguilde added the bronze in the men’s 51 KG full contact event.