Zyra Bon-as proved that determination can topple any doubt, defeating seasoned hometown favorite Jantakarn Manoban, 2-1, to claim gold in the Women’s Low Kick -48 kg final of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games kickboxing competitions on Tuesday at the John Paul II Sports Center, Assumption University near Bangkok, Thailand.
This marked the first time the -48 kg weight class was contested in the Low Kick discipline, after the women’s -56 kg category was held in Cambodia during the 2023 SEA Games.
Notably, the previous gold in that event also went to a Filipina, with Gretel de Paz defeating Indonesia’s Susanti Ndapataka.
Whinny Bayawon earned silver in the Men’s Kick Light -57 kg category, as Thailand’s Alexandre Mangkorn Berrie took home the gold.
Overall, the Philippine kickboxing team concluded the Games with one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals.
Mikko Camingawan secured bronze in the Men’s Full Contact -57 kg division, while Jansen Pareja claimed the same in the Men’s Low Kick -51 kg.
Two more bronze medals came from K-1, courtesy of veterans Jomar Balangui in the Men’s -60 kg and Renalyn Dacquel in the Women’s -52 kg categories.
The Nationals had won three golds in the previous SEA Games, but two defending champions chose to compete in different events this time in Thailand.
Jean Claude Saclag, a 2019 SEA Games kickboxing gold medalist, showcased his skills in MMA’s demonstration event and earned bronze.
Meanwhile, Claudine Veloso, who competes professionally in MMA, tried her hand in boxing but exited in the quarterfinals.
