AAK Davao bets take centerstage in 26th SKC awards

Youthful karatekas from the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) Davao City chapter will share the limelight when they receive separate awards and citations in this year’s So Kim Cheng Sports awards on July 22.

2020 SKC awards Male Athlete of the Year awardee Robert Lawrence Avacena, 2019 Batang Pinoy National Finals gold medalist and 7^th Asia Pacific Gojukai Championships top winner will head AAK Davao’s honor roll to be joined by Stephen James Cartagena, Jaime Danielle Nirza, Aldren Solon, Robert Bryan Dayanan Jr., Vryzyse Edelweiss Krebs and Jet Lu.

“These are our new achievers from AAK Davao’s grassroots program. In fact, Stephen James Cartagena and Aldren Solon are already part of the RP Cadets training pool. That is a good achievement for both of them as soon they will be donning the country’s colors in upcoming international competitions,” said AAK Davao chief instructor and Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Incorporated Region XI director Rommel Tan.

Cartagena will be receiving the Male Outstanding Athlete for Karatedo with achievements as gold medalist in the 2019 Batang Pinoy National Finals (cadets kumite +70kgs), silver medal in the 2020 Karate Pilipinas National Open (cadets kumite +70kgs) and a bronze medal in the 7^th Asia Pacific Gojukai Championships (cadets kumite +70kgs).

Solon who joined Cartagena in the RP Cadets training pool will receive a citation for a golden performance in the 2020 Karate Pilipinas National Open in the cadets -52kgs kumite.

Jamie Danielle Nirza is this year’s Female Outstanding Athlete for Karatedo for winning the gold medal in the 2020 Karate Pilipinas National Open girls kata 12-13 years-old category.

Citations will also be given to Dayanan Jr., silver medalist in the 2020 Karate Pilipinas National Open boys kata 8-9 years-old; Krebs for a silver in the girls kata 6-7 years old and Lu who bagged a gold medal in the 7^th Asia Pacific Gojukai Karate Championships in the 20-11 years-old boys 45kgs kumite.

The So Kim Cheng Sports Foundation is the longest running local award giving body in the city along with the Davao City Sports Council Incorporated.

Aside from karatedo, other sports which will be honored are archery, arnis, athletics, badminton, chess, duckpin bowling, motocross, muay thai, philspada, rugby, tenpin bowling, volleyball and wushu.