ONE Championship’s Gina “Conviction” Iniong is holding off on leisure activities for a chance to bring glory to the Philippines.
The 30-year-old recently married her longtime partner Richard Araos, but their honeymoon will have to wait as Iniong competes in kickboxing in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games set from December 6-10.
“My husband, Richard, is a seaman. He is on vacation now, but the nice thing about him is he is very supportive. He totally understands,” Iniong said.
“On our rest days, we spend the whole time together. He also brings me to training and drives me back home.”
Despite being a wushu practitioner and a professional martial artist, “Conviction” insists she will have no trouble adjusting to kickboxing rules.
When the opportunity presented itself, Iniong jumped quickly, confident that her kickboxing training would be enough to tow her on the team.
“There was a tryout for kickboxing, and they were looking for an experienced fighter. I tried out and luckily, I got in. We started training since then,” Iniong said.
“I have a background in martial arts, and I have been training kickboxing long before I joined the national team, so I don’t think I will have a problem adjusting.”
Sacrificing her honeymoon was not an easy choice. But Iniong and her husband made a deal as a trade-off.
“We talked about it, and he told me I need to get the gold medal so we wouldn’t waste our time. After all, we just got married and here I am training,” Iniong said.
“Now we’re here, and it will happen in the Philippines. I want to carve out a name in kickboxing.”
For one last time this year, ONE Championship returns to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for ONE: Mark of Greatness at the Axiata Arena on December 6.
The preliminary card begins on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the ONE Super App at 6:00pm Philippine Standard Time (PHT).
To watch the main card, turn to ABS-CBN S+A at 8:30pm PHT.
Or catch all the action live and for free on the ONE Super App.
