Karate One Youth League: Podium finish elusive for PH bets

Ysabella Arwen Varias (left) and Romania’s Momanu Alexandra hug each after their female -61-kilogram division match for bronze of the Karate One-Youth League at Mall of Asia Arena. –HANDOUT PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines’ medal hopes were dashed on the third day of the Karate One-Youth League Manila at Mall of Asia Arena as Ysabella Arwen Varias and Carl Caruana both fell short in their respective bronze medal matches.

Both fighters had kept their campaigns alive through the repechage rounds after early setbacks in the main draw, but were unable to convert their final chances for a podium finish.

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Varias, who opened her campaign with an upset win over WKF-1’s Mariaa Sereda, was unable to replicate that form in the cadet kumite female -61kg bronze medal bout, losing 0-4 to Romania’s Momanu Alexandra.

She had battled through multiple repechage matches to reach the medal round but struggled to find her rhythm against the Romanian, who controlled the contest from the start.

“It’s overwhelming being here because all the opponents are good,” Varias said. “I was a bit nervous during the bronze medal match so I couldn’t do what I did in the my first match.

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Caruana, meanwhile, also came up short in the junior kumite male +76kg division, absorbing a 1-9 loss to WKF-1’s Levon Shaishian in his bronze medal match.

The Filipino fighter was unable to keep pace as his opponent pulled away early and maintained control throughout the bout.

“The opponent is tall so it’s hard to hit him, but I am proud that I was able to get here,” Caruana said.

Despite the setbacks, both Varias and Caruana were among the country’s better performers across the three-day competition sanctioned by the World Karate Federation and organized by the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation, Inc and presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.