You are currently viewing Online Sports Tournaments- Pandemic Style

October 30,2020

by Kimberly Deaño

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, sports, tournaments and the like have been put on halt. Contact sports such as basketball, football, mixed martial arts, etc. are currently prohibited in the country and around the world (except the professional leagues) to stop the spread of the virus.

Despite the restriction of contact sports, sports associations have come up with the idea of having an online tournament – contact sports or non-contact sports. Whether the participants are in their respective homes or gyms, they will be able to partake in the competition online and exhibit their skills according to the sport they are representing.

TAEKWONDO
Taekwondo is a form of martial art that is used mostly for defense but can also be used for offense. From the name, “Taekwondo” is a segmented name: “Tae” (foot), “Kwon” (hand), and “Do” (art). Taekwondo can be martial, a sport, or a dance. Taekwondo can become a sport or a dance style due to its artful nature using foot and fist.

Last July 2020, the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) hosted their first Speed Kicking online tournament to allow athletes to showcase their passion and skills in the said sport. Athletes are able to maintain their physical and mental composure by means of practicing daily in conformity with the competition per se. The contest will not involve sparring following the COVID-19 guidelines and it is held online. The participants perform various techniques and are graded preceding each exercise.
Following PTA’s speed kicking contest, the National Taekwondo Team joins the first Global taekwondo Online Speed Kicking Championships. Pauline Louise Lopez, Kirstie Elaine Alroa, Arven Alcantara, Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison, Kurt Bryan Barbosa centers the National Team. The tournament features cadet, Junior, and Senior levels in both men and women divisions and in ten weight categories. Athletes are judged according to the technique and number of kicks in a minute duration.

CHESS
Chess is a two-player board game played by millions of people around the globe. The strategic delivery of the game makes it enjoyable and a mind game practice to form plans on how to defeat the enemy mentally.
Collaboration game between Endgame Sports Multi-Events, Inc. and National Chess Federation of the Philippines hosts 2020 National Youth Online Chess Championships and Masters Challenge last September 29 to October 10, 2020, with the cash prize of P77, 000 splits for various age categories – 7-under, 9-under, 11-under, 13-under, 15-under and 7-under boys and girls division with the master’s event for older players.
Drinian Villanueva of Tanauan, Batangas, and Danica Jolly Lavandero of Cebu grabbed the place in the 7U division of the said competition. With Villanueva dominating the 7U division boy’s category receiving points of 9.5 while Lavandero in the girl’s category ended the game with seven points. While John Curt Valencia of Dasmariñas prevails with 9.5 points in the 9U boy’s category and Daniela Bianca Cruz seizes with 10 points in the girl’s category.
King Whisley Puso from Sta. Rosa, Laguna (11U), Kaye Lalaine Regidor (11U), Oscar Joseph Cantela (13U), Daren dela Cruz (13U), Chester Neil Reyes (15U), FIDE Master Jerlyn Mae San Diego (15U), Paul Matthew Llanillo (17U), Mary Joy Tan (17U) won under each age-level and respective category. Simultaneously, International Master Rolanda Nolte succeeded the Master’s Challenge category gaining 10 points.