Baylon off to Brazil
As part of his preparation for the 24th Southeast Asian Games where he is gunning for his eight straight gold medal since 1991, John Baylon will compete in the tough World Judo Championship set Sept. 11 in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
The most veteran athlete in Philippine sports and the only Filipino trained at the famous Kodokan Judo Club in Tokyo, Baylon, who will leave on Sept. 7, will see action in the minus 81 kilogram event.
Crack judokas from 66 countries are competing in the six-day competition sanctioned by the International Judo Federation.
Baylon admitted wining in his division will be tough because of the quality of competition. But the 42-year-old warrior from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental is unfazed.
"Ang goal ko ay manalo. Gagawin ko ang lahat para mabigyan karangalan ang atin bansa," Baylon told Tempo after his afternoon workouts at the judo gym on the third floor of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine.
"Sana nga lang hindi agad ako matapat sa mabigat na kalaban para may tsansa makapasok sa second round," said Baylon.
Baylon will be making his third appearance in the tournament. He first competed in 1993 in Hamilton, Canada, and in 1995 in Taipei.
Baylon trip is self-financed, with his airfare shouldered by private sponsors.
"Allowance lang ang hihingin ko sa Philippine Sports Commission," said Baylon, who turns 43 on Nov. 6, two weeks before the SEA Games commences in Thailand.
Baylon said his stint in the world judo will enrich his experience and sharpen his skill in his preparation for the SEA Games where is up against tough rivals who are out to end his reign in his division in the region.
Baylon is a veteran, among others, of two world judo championships, five Asian Games, two Olympics in 1988 in South Korea and 1992 in Barcelona, 1993 Asian Judo in Macau, ASEAN Cup, Osaka International Goodwill Judo and Vietnam International Judo, making him one of the most decorated athletes in the annals of Philippine history.
The most veteran athlete in Philippine sports and the only Filipino trained at the famous Kodokan Judo Club in Tokyo, Baylon, who will leave on Sept. 7, will see action in the minus 81 kilogram event.
Crack judokas from 66 countries are competing in the six-day competition sanctioned by the International Judo Federation.
Baylon admitted wining in his division will be tough because of the quality of competition. But the 42-year-old warrior from Binalbagan, Negros Occidental is unfazed.
"Ang goal ko ay manalo. Gagawin ko ang lahat para mabigyan karangalan ang atin bansa," Baylon told Tempo after his afternoon workouts at the judo gym on the third floor of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine.
"Sana nga lang hindi agad ako matapat sa mabigat na kalaban para may tsansa makapasok sa second round," said Baylon.
Baylon will be making his third appearance in the tournament. He first competed in 1993 in Hamilton, Canada, and in 1995 in Taipei.
Baylon trip is self-financed, with his airfare shouldered by private sponsors.
"Allowance lang ang hihingin ko sa Philippine Sports Commission," said Baylon, who turns 43 on Nov. 6, two weeks before the SEA Games commences in Thailand.
Baylon said his stint in the world judo will enrich his experience and sharpen his skill in his preparation for the SEA Games where is up against tough rivals who are out to end his reign in his division in the region.
Baylon is a veteran, among others, of two world judo championships, five Asian Games, two Olympics in 1988 in South Korea and 1992 in Barcelona, 1993 Asian Judo in Macau, ASEAN Cup, Osaka International Goodwill Judo and Vietnam International Judo, making him one of the most decorated athletes in the annals of Philippine history.
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