PH combat bets stranded in China after 20-medal haul, appeal for help

Delegation head Sharma Devaiah with PH combat athletes. Sharma Devaiah

FILIPINO martial artists appealed for assistance after being stranded at Haikou Meilan International Airport following a 20-medal campaign at the International Sport Kickboxing Association Asia Pacific Championship–Elite Invitational Tournament in Sanya, China.

The Excalibur Fight Team collected four gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals in various disciplines during the tournament held from Aug. 5 to 9 in Sanya.

Delegation head and athlete Sharma Devaiah said the Filipinos completed their campaign successfully, with all fighters making weight and competing in their respective divisions.

Despite fielding one of the smallest delegations, the Philippine squad delivered podium finishes in Muay Thai, K-1, wushu sanda, No-Gi, light contact and point fighting.

Devaiah led the medal charge by winning the senior women’s -55-kilogram No-Gi gold. She also secured three silver medals in light contact, K-1 and K-1 Light to finish with four medals.

Gerwin Lete captured gold in the boys’ under-18 -55kg wushu sanda division, along with silver in K-1 Light and bronze medals in K-1 and full contact. He also competed as a challenger for the ISKA 55kg youth title.

Gregory Mamuad emerged as the delegation’s only double-gold medalist after ruling the under-16 -55kg point fighting and light contact events. He added silver medals in K-1 and K-1 Light.

Jhay Shareezer Gayman contributed a silver in Muay Thai and a bronze in point fighting in the boys’ under-12 -40kg class, while Neil James Calabias earned three bronzes in K-1, Muay Thai and K-1 Light in the under-18 -60kg division.

The team’s triumphant campaign, however, was followed by a travel ordeal after it missed its flight home. Devaiah said the delegation missed its flight after the private vehicle it took, instead of the high-speed train, was delayed by several detours and three charging stops, reaching the airport after check-in had closed.

The team was given a temporary place to rest while its members sought help from tournament organizers, airline representatives, government officials and friends in the Philippines and overseas.

“We are exhausting our resources just to bring our athletes home—our medals home,” Devaiah said in a social media appeal.

She said replacement tickets would cost approximately P108,000, or about P18,000 for each member of the six-person delegation. The group had raised roughly P40,000 at the time of the appeal.

The delegation also contacted the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou, which has jurisdiction over Hainan province, and was advised to secure new tickets immediately before fares increased.

Devaiah acknowledged that lapses contributed to the missed flight but appealed for understanding while the team worked to return home.

“As of now, we ask that you bear with us and help us,” she said. “Help me bring our medalists home.”

— Randy M. Caluag