MMA, esports in Asiad boosts PH gold medal potential in Japan

Mixed Martial Arts will debut in the Asian Games in Japan next year, and the Philippines is one of the countries that’s most excited about it.

With a rich trove of MMA fighters both locally and overseas, the Philippines certainly got a a shot in the arm in boosting its medal source aside from jiujitsu, gymnastics, boxing, men’s basketball, weightlifting, wushu, tennis and pole vault’s EJ Obiena.

And the Philippine Olympic Committee is taking the lead in forming the team, with only the toughest and brightest mixed martial arts fighters to make the delegation to Japan.

“Even I was surprised with MMA’s inclusion. We will hold tryouts asap and only the best will be chosen to represent us,’’ said POC president Bambol Tolentino, who stressed the need for a mean team with the finest in Asia sure to be present in the Japan Games.

The Olympic Council of Asia officially announced the inclusion of the sport last week as part of its calendar next year in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan where medals in six weight divisions—60kg, 71kg, 65kg and 77kg for men’s and 54kg and 60kg for women’s will be staked.

This early, threats to the Philippines’ medal aspirations in the sport are host Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and China as well as South Korea, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Iran.

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“The toughest fighters from Asia should be present, so there will be no favorites or shoo-ins in our selection process,” Tolentino said. “Everybody has to prove themselves worthy of these spots. Fighters from other countries with Filipino passports are welcome.’’

Team Philippines reclaimed the basketball gold in the 2022 Asiad in Hangzhou, China and went home with a total of four gold medals.