Filipino karatekas narrowly miss Youth League podium in Manila
Two young Filipino karatekas came close to winning medals at the Karate One-Youth League in Manila. Ysabella Arwen Varias and Carl Caruana reached bronze medal bouts but fell short in their final matches. The event, held at SM Mall of Asia Arena, drew competitors from around the world under World Karate Federation rules. The tournament was organised by the Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation and sanctioned by the World Karate Federation. Both Varias and Caruana advanced deep into their respective divisions, standing out as the Philippines’ top performers.
Varias started strong in the cadet kumite female -61-kilogram category. She defeated WKF-1’s Mariaa Sereda 1-0 in her opening match, securing a spot in the repechage round. However, her coach, Oliver Manalac, noted that competing in both kata and kumite left her fatigued. In the bronze medal bout, nerves took over, and she lost 0-4 to Romania’s Momanu Alexandra. Caruana, competing in the junior kumite male +76-kilogram division, also reached the bronze medal match. He dedicated his campaign to his parents, who funded his trip to Manila. But his run ended with a 1-9 defeat to WKF-1’s Levon Shaishian. Both athletes showed promise but ultimately missed the podium by narrow margins.
Varias and Caruana’s performances marked them as the Philippines’ strongest contenders in the tournament. Despite falling short in their final matches, their progress highlighted their potential in international competition. The event concluded with both athletes gaining valuable experience at a high-level competition.
