Malalad snatches gold in South Korea
Thursday, November 16th, 2006Wednesday, November 15, 2006
SEA Games grand slam gold medalist and reality TV star Gretchen Malalad copped the gold medal in the 2nd Korea Open Championship last weekend in Busan, South Korea.
The 26-year-old Malalad, a former Binibining Pilipinas titlist, won a 6-0 decision over a Korean rival in the finals to rule the +65 kg kumite.
Mentored by long-time RP Karate Team coach David Lay, Malalad, the country’s lone entry in the tournament, also bested a Vietnamese foe in a 6-2 decision in the semifinal round.
“Her victory sowed that she’s very much ready for the Asian Games,” said Ponce, who told Sun.Star Cebu earlier that the RP Karate Team is eyeing one gold medal in the fast-approaching Doha, Qatar Asian Games.
Malalad, who was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Accel, is eyeing to surpass her bronze medal finish in the Busan Asiad four years ago where she played with a shoulder injury on her way to the semifinal round.
Aside from the Pinoy Big Brother celebrity, other members of the Karate team who will be vying for medals in the Asian Games are SEA Games gold medalists Maj. Nelson Pacalso and Ma. Marna Pabillore, European Open gold medalist Bern Chu, Bong Toribio, Junel Perenia, Mae Soriano and kata specialist Noel Espinosa.
Except for Malalad and Espinosa, the rest of the RP karatekas are in Naples, Italy for their three-month international training and exposure with Italian coach Giuseppe Romano.
The Italy-based RP Team will be competing for two European meets in the Italy Open Karate Championships on Nov. 25-26 and the San Marino Open Karate Championships on Dec. 1-3.
Before leaving for Doha on Dec. 8, the RP Team will test their mettle against powerhouse teams from Iran, Hungary, Netherlands, and reigning world karate champion Italy. (JAF)
Taken from Sunstar Cebu Website
Malalad wins gold in Korea
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Malalad wins gold in Korea
PHILIPPINE karate’s poster girl is all set and ready for the Doha Asian Games.
In her first international stint this year, three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Gretchen Malalad kicked her way to a gold medal in the 2nd Korea Open Karate Championship held last weekend in Busan, South Korea.
The 26-year-old Malalad ruled the +65 kg. individual kumite event as she overwhelmed her Korean opponent in the finals, 6-0.
Armed with strong kicks never seen before, Malalad made it to the gold medal round after trouncing her Vietnamese foe in the semifinals, 6-2.
Malalad was the Philippines’ lone entry in the six-nation competition. National coach David Lay accompanied her in the sojourn supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Accel.
“Her victory showed that she’s very much ready for the Asian Games and I’m confident that Gretchen will deliver for us just like what she did in 2002,” said Philippine Karate Federation (PKF) head Ed Ponce.
Malalad hopes that she would surpass her bronze medal finish she achieved in Busan Asiad four years ago despite the shoulder injury the 5-foot-7 stunner suffered midway in the tournament.
Other national karate team members who were also preparing for the Doha meet are SEA Games gold medal winners Marna Pabillore and Nelson Pacalso, Bern Chu, Bong Toribio, Junel Perenia, Mae Soriano and kata specialist Noel Espinosa.
Except for Malalad and Espinosa, the rest of the RP karatekas are in Naples, Italy training under foreign coach Giuseppe Romano.
Meanwhile, the Philippine karate team will compete in two European meets that will serve as a tune-up for the Doha Games.
On November 25-26, the Filipino karatekas will be at Iserna, Italy for the Italy Open Karate Championships, where 8 European countries have confirmed their participation followed by the San Marino Open Karate Championships slated on December 1-3.
The Nationals will face Asian powerhouse Iran, Hungary, Netherlands, and reigning world karate champion Italy, in the last competition before they leave for Doha on December 8.
Taken from Sunstar Online at http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/cag/2006/
11/15/sports/malalad.wins.gold.in.korea.open.html
Malalad wins gold, ready for Asian Games
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Thursday, November 16, 2006 |
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Malalad wins gold, ready for Asian Games |
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In her first international stint this year, three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Gretchen Malalad kicked her way to a bronze medal in the 2nd Korea Open Karate Championship held last weekend in Busan, South Korea. The 26-year-old Malalad ruled the +65 kg individual kumite event as she overwhelmed her Korean opponent in the finals, 6-0. Armed with strong kicks never seen before, Malalad made it to the gold medal round after trouncing her Vietnamese foe in the semifinals, 6-2. Malalad was the Philippines’ lone entry in the six-nation competition. National coach David Lay accompanied her in the sojourn supported by Philippine Sports Commission and Accel. “Her victory showed that she’s very much ready for the Asian Games and I’m confident that Gretchen will deliver for us just like what she did in 2002,” said Philippine Karate Federation head Ed Ponce. Malalad hopes that she would surpass her bronze medal finish she achieved in Busan Asiad four years ago despite her shoulder injury the 5-foot-7 stunner suffered midway in the tournament. Other national karate team members who were also preparing for the Doha meet are SEA Games gold medal winners Marna Pabillore and Nelson Pacalso, Bern Chu, Bong Toribio, Junel Perenia, Mae Soriano and kata specialist Noel Espinosa. Except for Malalad and Espinosa, the rest of the RP karatekas are in Naples, Italy, training under foreign coach Giuseppe Romano. Meanwhile, the Philippine karate team will compete in two European meets that will serve as a tune-up for the Doha Games. On November 25 to 26 the Filipino karatekas will be at Iserna, Italy, for the Italy Open Karate Championships, where eight European countries have confirmed their participation followed by the San Marino Open Karate Championships slated on December 1 to 3. The Nationals will face Asian powerhouse Iran, Hungary, the Netherlands and reigning world karate champion Italy, in the last competition before they leave for Doha on December 8. Taken from Manila Times Net at http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/nov/16/yehey/sports/20061116spo6.html
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More of Gretchen Malalad in NewsPrint
November 16, 2006
Grab a copy of today’s Philippine Daily Inquirer (P. A16 in L8 Sports Section), Bulgar Tabloid, Manila Times, LIBRE and SunStar for more articles about Gretchen Malalad victory in the 2nd Korea Grand Open Championship held in Busan, South Korea last November 11 and 12.
Thanks Theodore for the updates!
ARTICLE INDEX
November 16, 2006
Malalad wins gold, ready for Asian Games
Manila Times
Click the link here or in Manila Times Net Website
Asiad-sharp Malalad bags gold in Busan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Click the link here or in INQ7 Website
* To post the article in Bulgar soon
November 15, 2006
Malalad wins gold in Korea
Sunstar Online
Click the link here or in Sunstar OnlineWebsite
Malalad snatches gold in South Korea
Sunstar Cebu Online
Click the link here or in Sunstar OnlineWebsite
Gretchen handa na sa Asian Games
Taliba Online
Written by Theodore Jurado
click the link here or in Taliba Online site
Pinay karateka sumikwat ng gold sa Korea Open
Abante Website
click the link here or in Abante site
Gold sinikwat ni Malalad sa Korean Open
PM (PangMasa)
Written by Russel Cadayona
click the link here
Gretchen bags karate gold
People’s Journal
Written by Theodore Jurado
click the link here
Malalad bags gold in Busan
Manila Bulletin
Written by Kristel Satumbaga
Click the link here
Gold for Gretch in Busan
Business Mirror
Written by Ian Brion
Click the link here
Malalad wins gold in Korea
Manila Standard Today
Click the link here.
* To post the article in Standard Express soon
Asiad-sharp Malalad bags gold in Busan
Inquirer
Last updated 03:39am (Mla time) 11/16/2006
Published on page A16 of the November 16, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
PHILIPPINE karate’s poster girl is all set and ready for the Doha Asian Games next month.
Gretchen Malalad, the three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, kicked her way to a gold in the second Korea Open karate championship held last weekend in Busan, South Korea.
The 26-year old Malalad, competing in her first international stint this year, ruled the +65 kg. individual kumite event as she overwhelmed her Vietnamese opponent in the finals, 7-2.
Malalad made it to the gold medal round after trouncing her Korean foe in the semifinals, 6-0.
Malalad, accompanied by national coach David Lay, was the Philippines’ lone entry in the six-nation competition.
“Her victory showed that she’s ready for the Asian Games and I’m confident that Gretchen will deliver for us,” said Philippine Karate Federation head Ed Ponce.
The 5-foot-7 former beauty pageant entry hopes to surpass her bronze medal in Busan Asiad four years ago despite competing with a shoulder injury she suffered midway in the tournament.
Taken from Inq7.Net Website at
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=32876
Ramirez’s Bold Prediction
Manila Standard Today
D4 SPORTS
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
By Peter Atencio
First Gentleman Mike Arroyo will extend his support to the national athletes even after the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.
….. Ramirez said the First Gentleman assured him of his renewed support when informed that the Philippines could win five gold medals or more in the Asiad. He told Arroyo that the gold will most likely come from billiards, bowling and the combat sports of judo, karatedo, boxing and taekwondo.
(Excerpt from Manila Standard Today)
229 RP athletes eye 5 Asiad golds
By Marc Anthony Reyes, June Navarro
Inquirer
Last updated 06:21am (Mla time) 10/24/2006
Published on page A21 of the October 24, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
AT THE very least, five gold medals.
This was the bold forecast of Philippine Sports Commission chair William “Butch” Ramirez after the Asiad Task Force finalized yesterday the list of 229 athletes in 31 sports for the 15th Asian Games set Dec. 1-15 in Doha, Qatar.
“It’s very hard to make a prediction, but based on our analysis in billiards, bowling and combat sports, we can get more than five,” Ramirez, also the Asiad Chef de Mission, told the Inquirer.
“We can’t really be so sure but that is very probable.”
The traditional top gold prospects are boxing, wushu, taekwondo, billiards and bowling. The PSC chief said he also expects big performances from equestrian, diving and even lawn tennis.
“There are many promising names in the delegation and this is a good sign for us because these athletes have already proven themselves in several international tournaments against the best in the world,” said Ramirez.
Completing the 351-strong RP contingent are 94 team officials, 10 medical personnel, 15 administrative staff and three Chef de Mission officers.
Deputy Chef de Mission Richie Garcia will lead the advance party of Team Philippines on Nov. 16 along with administrative officials Nestor Ilagan and Moying Martelino and the secretariat’s Carlos Mari Roque.
Thirty-one athletes from baseball, rowing, table tennis and badminton will comprise the first wave of athletes who will depart on Nov. 26.
Ramirez will lead the main batch of 99 athletes from aquatics, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, gymnastics, judo, sepak takraw, shooting, soft tennis and weightlifting. They will leave two days later.
The rest of the athletes will be leaving on a staggered basis due to limited space at the Asian Games Village, with the karate bets the last to plane in on Dec. 8.
Ramirez picked world champions Wang Wili and Rene Catalan to deliver in wushu, multiple Southeast Asian Games gold winner Shiela Mae Perez in diving, SEAG veterans Gretchen Malalad and Marna Pabillore in karatedo and Harry Tañamor in boxing.
Despite the absence of Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Ramirez said billiards is a bright gold prospect, along with bowling.
The two sports along with equestrian delivered three golds for the country in the last Asiad in Busan, South Korea.
Paeng Nepomuceno will defend the men’s doubles gold in bowling with a new partner after old teammate RJ Bautista failed to make it to the squad.
Cue artists Antonio Gabica and Leonardo Andam will take the place of Nikoy Lining and Bustamante in 9-ball doubles, where the Filipinos are the defending champions.
Toni Leviste and Danielle Cojuangco will try to duplicate the equestrian gold won by Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski four years ago.
Other medal hopefuls are Jasmine Figueroa (archery), Thsomlee Go and Toni Rivero (taekwondo), Dianne Pascual and Heidi Ilustre (beach volleyball), Migue Molina and JB Walsh (swimming), Jethro Dionisio and Jamie Recio (shooting), John Baylon (judo), Ramon Lanza (equestrian) and Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino (tennis).
Taken from INQ7.NET Website http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/sports/view_article.php?article_id=28338
Malalad wins gold in Korea
Manila Standard Today
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
D2 SPORTS
ROUNDUP
PHILIPPINE karate’s poster girl is all set and ready for the Doha Asian Games.
In her first international stint this year, three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Gretchen Malalad kicked her way to a gold medal in the 2nd Korea Open Karate Championship held last weekend in Busan, South Korea.
The 26-year-old Malalad ruled the +65 kg. individual kumite event as she overwhelmed her Korean opponent in the finals, 6-0.
Armed with strong kicks never seen before, Malalad made it to the gold medal round after trouncing her Vietnamese foe in the semifinals, 6-2.
Malalad was the Philippines’ lone entry in the six-national-competition. National coach David Lay accompanied her in the sojourn supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Accel.
“Her victory showed that she’s very much ready for the Asian Games and I’m confident that Gretchen will deliver for us just like what she did in 2002,” said Philippine Karate Federation (PKF) head Ed Ponce.
Malalad hopes that she would surpass the bronze-medal finish she achieved in Busan Asiad four years ago despite her shoulder injury the 5′7″ stunner suffered midway in the tournament.
Other national karate team members who were also preparing for the Doha meet are SEA Games gold medal winners Marna Pabillore and Nelson Pacalso, Bern Chu, Bong Toribio, Junel Perenia, Mae Soriano and kata specialist Noel Espinosa.
Gold for Gretch in Busan
Business Mirror
D2 SPORTS
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Three-time Southeast Asian Games champion Gretchen Malalad served notice of her gold medal aspiration in the coming 15th Asian Games by prevailing in the recent Korean Open in Busan, South Korea.
The pretty 26-year-old Malalad ruled the +65 kgs class of kumite, blanking a Korean opponent, 6-0, in the semifinals and outclassing a Vietnamese, 7-2, in the finals of the six-nation tournament.
With Malalad’s victory, Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) president Eduardo Ponce expressed confidence that the RP karate team could surpass the two bronze medals it won four years ago in the Busan Asian Games.
“I was elated and my confidence grew that we are capable of duplicating and even surpassing our two bronze medals in Busan,” said Ponce.
The Philippines also clinched two bronze medals in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.
“Now, we want the shiniest medal in Doha, although our modest is at least to duplicate our two-bronze finish in the last two Asian Games,” added Ponce. “But our chance depends on the draw. If there is a good draw, we have a good chance.”
In preparation for its quadrennial team to Naples, Italy, a month ago for training.
Besides Malalad, the other Doha-bound karatekas are Bernardino Chu, Irineo Toribio, Junel Perania, Nelson Pacalso, Mae Soriano, Ma. Marna Pabillore and Noel Espinosa.
The Philippines will also compete in two tournaments in Europe for its final tuneup for Doha. On November 25 and 26, the Filipinos will be in Iserna, Italy, for the Italy Open, and from December 1 to 3, they will be competing in the San Marino Open.
Ian Brion
Malalad bags gold in Busan
Manila Bulletin
J-2 SPORTS
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
KARATEKA GRETCHEN Malalad stamped her class in the 2nd Korean Grand Open Championship over the weekend in Busan and took home the gold medal to fortify her medal campaign in the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar next month.
Still recuperating from a right knee injury she sustained during training, the 26-year-old Malalad made use of her sharp techniques to beat Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Nga, 7-2, for the gold in the +65 kgs individual kumite.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and Busan Asian Games bronze winner first blanked a Korean competitor in the semifinals, 6-0, to advance to the championship round.
National team coach David Lay expressed his optimism that Malalad can improve her Busan Asian Games performance with the kind of determination and fighting spirit she showed in her first international exposure after the 2005 SEA Games.
Kristel Satumbaga
Gretchen bags karate gold
People’s Journal
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Page 12 SPORTS
PHILIPPINE karate’s poster girl Gretchen Malalad won a gold medal in the 2nd Korea Open karate championship last weekend in Busan, South Korea.
In her first international stint after winning her third straight gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games last year, the 26-year-old Malalad ruled he +65 kg. individual kumite event as she overwhelmed her Korean opponent in the finals, 6-0.
Armed with strong kicks never seen before, Malalad made it to the gold medal round after disposing of her Vietnamese foe in the semifinals, 6-2.
Malalad was the Philippines’ lone entry in the six-national-competitio. National coach David Lay accompanied her in the sojourn supported by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Accel.
“Her victory showed that she’s very much ready for the Asian Games and I’m confident that Gretchen will deliver for us just like what she did in 2002,” said Philippine Karate Federation (PKF) head Ed Ponce.
Malalad hopes that she would surpass her bronze medal finish she achieved in Busan Asiad four years ago despite her shoulder injury the 5-foot-7 stunner suffered midway in the tournament.
Other national karate team members who were also preparing for the Doha meet are SEA Games gold medal winners Marna Pabillore and Nelson Pacalso, Bern Chu, Bong Toribio, Junel Perenia, Mae Soriano and kata specialist Noel Espinosa.
Except for Malalad and Espinosa, the rest of the RP karatekas are in Naples, Italy training under foreign coach Giuseppe Romano.
Meanwhile, the Philippine karate team will compete in two European meets that will serve as a tune-up for the Doha Games.
On Nov. 25-26, the Filipino karatekas will be at Iserna, Italy for the Italy Open Karate Championships, where 8 European countries ahve confirmed their participation followed by the San Marino Open Karate Championships slated on Dec. 1-3.
Theodore P. Jurado
