THE Philippines’ Junna Tsukii and Jamie Lim jumpstart their campaign today in separate weight classes in the 2021 Karate World Senior Championships at the Hamdan Arena in Dubai.
Ms. Lim will be the first to plunge into action as she competes in the women’s 61-kilogram kumite event starting at 1 p.m. (Philippine time), while Ms. Tsukii gets her chance to have a piece of the action at 9:30 p.m. in the 50-kg section.
The 30-year-old Ms. Tsukii is expected to be one of the favorites being ranked No. 2 in her division while Ms. Lim, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist like the former, should give it all and defy the odds being an underdog in her class.
Both are out to boost their stocks as they gear towards qualifying to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Karate Pilipinas President Richard Lim, whose group was officially recognized as the country’s governing body of the sport by the World Karate Federation (WKF) during its congress Monday, said he likes their chances.
“We have high hopes for a podium finish for Ms. Junna and Ms. Jamie,” said Mr. Lim.
John Enrico Vasquez and Sarah Pangilinan, the other two Filipino entries, for their part, open their campaign in the individual kata competition unfurling at 1 p.m. for male karatekas and 3 p.m. for the female participants.
If they made past the eliminations, the medal matches are slated on Saturday. — Joey Villar