Foreign fighters invade Cebu for the 12th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (Wekaf) World Championships on July 18 to 24 at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.
Fighters from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, Ireland, England, France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Norway, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, New Zealand, India, Korea, Vietnam, Sweden, United States of America, Puerto Rico, Canada, Greece, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Poland will compete in the three-day tournament that offers 95 gold medals.
They will be joined by local fighters from Cebu, Bicol, Davao, General Santos and Bohol.
The tournament have single stick sparring, double stick and form stick sparring categories. These will be divided into senior, junior and children divisions.
The USA dominated the 11th World Champions in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico last year.
The Philippine Team aims to regain the title it won in 2000 when the event was also held here in Cebu.
“We are confident about our team’s performance because we have prepared for a long time and we are fighting in our own backyard,” said Wekaf president Michael Cañete in yesterday’s official launching at the Cebu Grand Hotel.
Joining Cañete was his uncle, Wekaf Emeritus Dionisio Cañete and his son, incumbent president of WEKAF Gerald Cañete.
Meanwhile, Dionisio Cañete will enshrine the first batch of Grand Masters for arnis in the Eskrima Temple in Busay on July 18.