MANILA – Ilonggo Rene Catalan aims for a golden finish in his international career when he competes in the sambo event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games to be held in the country later this year.
Catalan said he is hoping to deliver a SEA Games gold one last time for the Philippines 14 years since he last won a gold medal in the wushu competition.
“It’s been fourteen years. I am just so happy to be given the opportunity to represent the Philippines once again,” said the 40-year-old Catalan. “Ever since I was a kid, my main goal has always been to give honor to my country.”
“Now, I have another opportunity to bring home a gold medal to the Philippines. I saw that I have a good chance of bringing home a medal, so I decided to compete one more time,” he added.
Catalan said that this year’s SEA Games will serve as his swan song in representing the country as he wants to focus on coaching the national sambo team next year on top of his mixed martial arts career.
Catalan made his presence felt in the region sambo competition last year when he captured the gold medal in the first Southeast Asian Sambo Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“They saw my dedication in the sport, and maybe that’s why they chose me to represent the country. Maybe my performance last year in Indonesia also played a factor in their decision,” Catalan said.
“Not everyone is given a chance to represent the country. That’s why I’m going to work double-time in training sessions, so I can repay the trust that the country has given me,” he added./PN
