THE ASSOCIATION for the Upliftment of Karatedo (AUK) emerged overall champion in the 3rd Annual Hakuakai Dumaguete Open Karate Championships held last weekend at the Robinsons Place Dumaguete in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
AUK bagged a whopping 17 gold medals in the tournament, which was participated by various karatedo clubs from Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, and Cebu. AUK was headed by chief instructor Rhodee Antoinette Reynes Saavedra and coach Criel Labrada.
Aside from the gold medals, AUK also bagged 11 silver medals, and six bronze medals.
Five karatekas from AUK bagged two gold medals each headed by Maria Cassandra Samson, who topped the 14-15 years old girls novice kata and the 54kg kumite events. Other double gold medalists were Rheianne Annarie Luza (10-11 years old girls intermediate kata and intermediate kumite),
Allison Kyle Quiroga (16-17 years old girls open kata and the open kumite +59kgs), Giovanni Ephraim Apuya (14-15 boys open kata and the open kumite -57kgs), and Felix Calipusan Jr. (18-above men’s advance kata and the open kumite -55kgs.).
Others who chipped in gold medals were Jiel Cabuenas (8-9 years old girls novice Kata), Febe Cabuenas (10-11 years old girls novice kata), Chrisgel Tubianosa (12-13 boys novice kata), Maria Cassandra Samson, Isaac Erin (12-13 boys novice kumite), Lhord Mikhael Ortalla (14-15 boys open kumite -52kg), Jeremy Laurence Nopre (16-17 years old boys open kumite -76kgs), and Stephen Durano (18-above men’s open kumite -60kg).