Foreign participants for World Shoto Cup arrive

DELEGATIONS from South Africa, the United States of America (USA) and Argentina arrived in Cebu yesterday for the action-packed Second World Shoto Cup this weekend at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

However, before the kicks and punches are thrown, a seminar to be conducted by Master Yutaka Yaguchi of ISKF will be held at the Caspian Room of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino and tomorrow a Dan examination will be held for ISKF members as well as the judges meeting and examinations followed by another seminar by Master Teruyuki Okazaki.

On Saturday, the tournament will start with the elimination rounds of the kata category featuring Adult and Seniors divisions. The kumite events will then follow.

According to tournament manager Raymund Lee Reyes, team Philippines will be facing an uphill battle in its bid to top the competition as they are ranged against bigger and stronger opponents from defending champion USA and South Africa.

However, Reyes is pinning his hopes in Cebuano Oj Delos Santos, a gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) along with medalists from the recent World Cup in Korea, Princess Diane Sicangco and Joana Ylanan.

South Africa is fielding in a massive 93-man contingent competing in the Juniors (8-17 years old), Adults (18-44) and Seniors (45 and above) in both the kata (form) and kumite (sparring) categories.

The national team meanwhile, is backed up by ISKF-AKC Cebu headed by Sensei Reynan Vidal who will also field in his best karatekas in the kumite division.

Meanwhile, delegates from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Iran, Lebanon, India, Germany, Egypt, Israel and Switzerland have arrived late last night. According to Lee, most of the delegates will extend their stay here for a short vacation.

“They are very happy of the venue because they did not expect it would be held in this kind of hotel which is very beautiful.They are very thankful also that it is held in Cebu because of its very popular tourist destinations and beaches,” said Lee.

The tournament wil adopt the Shubo Ippon system where each player has to score the first two points to win in the kumite competition. The event is open to the public.  /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL