Rising grappler Sophia Novino reached the finals of the Youth Women’s -47-kilogram division, while three other Filipinas secured bronze medals to give the host nation an encouraging start in the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday.
Competing in just her first year in the Russian martial art, Novino impressed by defeating opponents from Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan to advance to the gold-medal match of her weight class in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sambo Federation, Inc.
Joining her on the podium were Jennelyn Tuñacao, Maria Tess Polistico, and Princess Love Boyore, who each earned bronze medals in the -72kg, -59kg, and -54kg divisions, respectively, as competition opened in the continental showcase held under the auspices of the National Sports Tourism Interagency Committee led by PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.
Despite her remarkable run, the 17-year-old Novino remained grounded about her expectations entering the tournament.
“Sobrang saya ko dahil ang goal ko lang po ay mag-play ng best ko,” she said.
The Grade 11 University of the East student admitted she never expected to make it all the way to the finals.
“Hindi ko naman ini-expect na makatuntong ako sa finals kaya kakayanin ko pong tapusin ng maganda ang naumpisahan ko,” she continued.
Novino was set to face a Kazakhstani opponent in the championship bout later that evening.
A varsity judo player for UE, Novino revealed that she was drawn to sambo because of the opportunity presented to her and the sport’s similarities to her primary discipline.
“Maganda yung opportunity na binigay sa akin. Hindi naman nagkakalayo sa judo kaya nagpatuloy po ako sa sambo,” she said.
Further highlighting her promise in the sport, Novino shared that she captured a gold medal in the -55kg category at a tournament in Singapore last May, where she competed against a male opponent.
Recalling that experience, she said she simply wanted to make the most of the trip.
“Sabi ko, okay na lang na may kalaban para hindi masayang ang pagpunta ko sa Singapore,” she expressed.
Tuñacao, one of Novino’s teammates at UE, was also pleased to secure a bronze medal in what was her first major international tournament, although she felt she still had more to offer.
After her loss to a Kazakhstani opponent, Tuñacao reflected on her performance.
“Feel ko po may maibubuhos pa ako sa kalaban,” she said.
National sambo team coach Ace Larida welcomed the strong opening-day showing by the Philippine contingent, noting the level of competition in the tournament.
“This is a good beginning for us in this tournament because the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships is a tough competition and next only to the worlds,” she said.
Larida added that the team’s future remains bright, especially as its athletes continue to gain experience and move up to higher levels of competition.
“We can only look forward to doing better once we start competing in the senior division,” she said.
