WORLD KENDO TOURNEY. Filipino player Paul Minoza (left) battles an opponent from Austria in the men’s individual event of the 19th World Kendo Championships held in Milan, Italy on July 4-7, 2024. United Kendo Federation of the Philippines (UKFP) president Kristopher Inting said the Team Philippines “did good” right in its first participation in the WKC. (Photo from WKC)
MANILA – The Philippine kendo team may have returned home empty-handed, but the country’s first participation has left its mark in the World Kendo Championship (WKC) held on July 4-7 in Milan, Italy.
“After four days of competition, I would say the first-ever Philippine Team to the WKC did good. We were able to make our mark on the world stage, showing we are at least capable of giving everyone good fights,” United Kendo Federation of the Philippines (UKFP) president Kristopher Inting said in a statement sent to the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday.
Both the men’s and women’s teams of the Philippines failed to advance past the round-robin stage of the WKC’s 19th edition.
The Filipinas lost to host Italy but defeated Portugal while the men’s team won against Finland before bowing out to Great Britain in the team’s competition.
Melduen Castillon is the only Filipino player to reach the round of 32 in the women’s individual event.
“Team remains in high spirits as these are good results for first time participants,” Inting said.
He said they look forward to returning to the 2027 WKC in Tokyo “with a hopefully stronger team that has learned lessons from this outing.”
The team will now prepare for the ASEAN Kendo tournament to be held in Singapore in 2025, Inting said.
The Philippines was represented in Italy WKC by Emerson Sychingiok, Michael Logarta, Matthew Arce, Paul Minoza, Steven Canete, Ralph Lee, Elvin Villarama and Inoue Yuta (men’s team) and Denise Verastigue-Gonzales, Reida-Jade Renovilla, Fides Desacada-Tatlonghari, Loida Estanilla-Inting, Verna Chiongbian, Castillon and Xylia Alzate (women’s team).
As expected, Japan dominated the tournament after sweeping both men’s and women’s titles.
Kendo, centuries-old Japanese fencing and the queen of martial arts, is a practice which, due to its intrinsic characteristics, presents multiple aspects and facets, according to the UKFP.
It can be considered from time to time as a training discipline, sporting or recreational activity, study and application of combat strategy, a form of physical education, or spiritual discipline, it added. (with reports from Alona Cochon/PNA)
