HOPEFUL. Marianne Mariano holds the silver medal she won in the women's 55kg category in kun bukator, an ancient martial art in Cambodia, during the Southeast Asian Games last year. She is eyeing for a gold medal in the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships on June 29-30, 2024 in Macau. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) wushu champion Marianne Mariano is setting her sights on the gold medal in the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships scheduled on June 29-30 at the Forum de Macau stadium in Macau.
The 35-year-old Air Force techical sergeant had a successful career in wushu-sanda before shifting to sambo, a Russian combat sport which is a combination of judo, wrestling and mixed martial arts.
"I am really focused now. I studied sambo, not only having my knowledge when it comes striking but also added wrestling, judo and jiujitsu in my arsenal. I have a wider knowledge on how to play the game and what to do so that I will have a solid game plan," said Mariano, seeking to improve her bronze medal finish in 2022 and 2023.
A native of Tuba, Benguet who studied MAPE (Music, Arts and Physical Education) at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City, is determined to perform well in the tournament which is part of her training for the Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) that will be held in Bangkok, Thailand in November.
"Our president, sir Paolo (Tancontian), said 'don't aim for the diamond, aim for the gold because gold has value'," Mariano added.
Before shifting to sambo, she had a successful career in wushu, winning two gold medals in the sanda event (60kgs) at the SEA Games. She also won medals in Asian Championships and World Championships.
At the SEAG last year, she got the silver medal (55kgs) in kun bokator, Cambodia's ancient martial art.
Head coach Ace Larida is optimistic that Mariano has a good chance.
"Marianne is very prepared, especially with her weight. This year, we expect her to win the gold. She already has throws and has defense in the take down. She is a complete package so she has a bigger chance now," said Larida, who will be assisted by coaches Gerard Arce and Jerry Legaspi.
Also in the national team roster are six-time World medalists and two-time Asian champion Sydney Sy-Tancontian; 2023 Asia-Oceania bronze medalists Robin Catalan and Aislinn Yap; 2019 SEAG champion and 2024 Dutch Open and Paris Open winner Chino Sy-Tancontian; MMA fighters Jomary “The Zamboanginian Fighter” Torres, John Mcleary “Pirata” Ornido, and Edemel Catalan; grappler Godwin Langbayan, Janry Pamor, Cresente Navares; and Bandung Sambo Open double-gold medalist Princess Cortez.
“We have our finest athletes in the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships who will give their very best to bring honor and pride for our country,” said Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. president Paolo Tancontian, who also serves as head of delegation.
“We are very thankful to the Philippine Sports Commission for allowing us to compete in a higher stage, to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Mayor Bambol Tolentino for lending us the facility in Tagaytay City as part of our bubble training and to Sen. Bong Go, for the unending support.”
The Filipinos will be up against the best athletes from Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan, Jordan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. (PNA)
