Alforte strikes gold

MANILA, Philippines — Sakura Alforte struck gold in women’s individual kata in the Karate 1 Youth League A in Coruna, Spain recently as part of her preparation for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games set May 5 to 17 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Alforte bested Lanyfer Minano, representing Switzerland with Filipino roots, 26-24.7, to snare the mint that should give her the needed confidence as she shoots for SEAG gold.

It was another triumph for Alforte, who topped the Southeast Asian Championships in Manila last month.

“This is very important because she is competing in the SEA Games,” said Karate Pilipinas president Richard Lim.

Alforte is one of the country’s best bets in the sport as the team tries to make up for its heartbreak in last year’s Hanoi Games where it failed to win a gold and brought home eight bronzes.

Apart from Alforte, World Games gold winner and world No. 3 Junna Tsukii, and World Championship veteran and SEA Games gold medalist Jamie Lim will spearhead the country’s campaign in the Cambodian capital.

Also in the squad are Arianne Isabel Brito, Remon Misu, Maryanne Matthew Manantan, John Kyle Tabilog, Alwyn Batican, Prince Izmen, Louis Alejo and Kim Masayuki Torres.