Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Alexander Zian Sing  (left)connects with a kick to the face Brunei's Awanku Ahmad Aiman in the junior  male kumite -61kg division quartefinals of the Karate One-Youth League yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 15, 2026. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778892265008viber_image_2026-05-15_18-42-23-209.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Alexander Zian Sing (left)connects with a kick to the face Brunei&#x27;s Awanku Ahmad Aiman in the junior male kumite -61kg division quartefinals of the Karate One-Youth League yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on May 15, 2026. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — More than the country&#x27;s historic hosting of the Karate One Youth League Manila, top sports officials see the tournament as a way to develop young karatekas.</p><p>Over <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/7/ph-to-welcome-over-1000-karatekas-in-youth-tournament-1206">1,000 karatekas from 59 nations</a> are in the Philippines for the four-day tournament happening at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.</p><p>Opening festivities for the world-class youth competition took place on Friday, highlighted by the Parade of Nations and cultural performances.  </p><p>Karate Pilipinas Federation, Inc. president Richard Lim said one of the main goals of the event is to provide exposure for the next generation of Filipino karatekas.</p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1901810743858768%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>&quot;We hosted this youth league to give opportunity to our youth.... One way of giving them all the opportunity is to host. Because they will be playing in a different battlefield. This is the world standard already,&quot; Lim told reporters on Friday.  </p><p>&quot;Of course, they have been competing here locally. But in the end, they need to compete with a higher level of competition so that they will be pushed and be challenged to train harder. And this is the world stage, so that would be the best opportunity for them,&quot; he added.</p><p>Lim said delegates have been praising the country&#x27;s hosting of the Karate One Youth League, feeling the Filipino warmth and hospitality.</p><p>&quot;So far, we have been receiving praises. And, I mean, most of them were saying this is the first time that we&#x27;ve arrived in a country where we were greeted right after the door of the airplane,&quot; he shared.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/14/3-women-to-play-key-roles-in-staging-of-karate-one-youth-league-manila-0210">3 women to play key roles in staging of Karate One-Youth League Manila<br/></a></div><p>&quot;Then, they were assisted all the way to the immigration. So they were very, very pleased. And they were very appreciative of what we have done,&quot; Lim added.</p><p>World Karate Federation President Antonio Espinós lauded the local organizing committee, revealing the possible return of the tournament next year.</p><p>&quot;It is a milestone because never [in] Asia, Southeast Asia, and very especially Philippines have been given to all karatekas the opportunity that they are having with the celebration of this youth league,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I have to say that in my conversations with Richard Lim, we are considering very seriously to come back next year for another youth league,&quot; Espinós added.</p><p>Lim said the Karate One Youth League may be held in February 2027, comprising the Asian leg of the series.</p><p>&quot;They will remove Fujairah and officially endorse Manila as the Asian leg for the World Youth League. Kasi diba, we have five continents diba? So officially, instead of Fujairah, it will be Manila na,&quot; he shared.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1778892432545viber_image_2026-05-15_18-42-04-218.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Rei Alec Servan (left)  hits Australia&#x27;s  Lucy Choi-Lawrence in quarterfinal action of the junior female -53-kilogram of Karate One-Youth League yesterday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.</span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Of course, back to the drawing board, we have to start all over again. But at least, we already have experience, so we learn from that, and improve some more... The (federation)president was telling me, &#x27;Why don&#x27;t you host the World Seniors Championships?&#x27; So that&#x27;s another thing. I said,&#x27; We&#x27;ll take it slow, step by step&#x27;,&quot; Lim explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/5/7/ph-to-welcome-over-1000-karatekas-in-youth-tournament-1206">PH to welcome over 1,000 karatekas in youth tournament<br/></a></div><p>Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Bong Coo said the country&#x27;s hosting of the tournament aligns with the goal to make the Philippines a sports tourism destination.</p><p>&quot;The Philippine Sports Commission hopes that this event becomes a meaningful milestone for karate, reflecting our shared commitment for athletes&#x27; welfare and a healthy citizenry through sports,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;We are confident that after this tournament, we will all begin to see the Philippines as a premier destination for sports tourism,&quot; Coo added.</p><p>On the second day, Filipino karateka Eduardo Berco III delivered the best finish for the country despite missing the podium in the junior male kumite -61kg division.</p><p>The Karate One Youth League Manila 2026, sanctioned by the World Karate Federation, will run until May 17.</p><div><a href="http://3 women to play key roles in staging of Karate One-Youth League Manila">3 women to play key roles in staging of Karate One-Youth League Manila</a></div>

<p>More than the country's historic hosting of the Karate One Youth League Manila, top sports officials see the tournament as a way to develop young karatekas.</p>

More than the country's historic hosting of the Karate One Youth League Manila, top sports officials see the tournament as a way to develop young karatekas.

Karate One Youth League Manila officially opens, aims to help develop Filipino karatekas

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Karate One Youth League Manila officially opens, aims to help develop Filipino karatekas

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 16, 2026 08:50 AM PHT

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Karate

Karate One Youth League

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