MetroVanIndependent.com
May 2015
23
sports
Two teens bag gold in Junior Int’l Cup
By Alex Mino
Cousins Shalene Lee and John Sawal
reign supreme in their categories at the
conclusion of Junior International Cup
karate championship recently held in Paris
Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lee and Sawal dominated their
counterparts from Unites States of America
and Mexico to rule their divisions.
The 17-year-old Lee tops the Female
Elite Kata category, while her fellow
Canadian team mate Lisa Deshaies
Frurumuto landed in second followed
by Giselle Kaneda of United States and
Alejandra Torija Garcia of Mexico, 3rd and
4th, respectively.
Sawal, on the other hand, rules the
18-20 Male Elite Kata while another
Canadian, Nicholas Patrick Rivest finished
second ahead of David Vasquez of Mexico
and James Randall of USA.
Lee and Sawal, both product of
Winston Churchill Secondary School
in Vancouver, together with two others
were two of four participants with Filipino
descent among Canadian contingents.
“I’m so proud of my daughter and
nephew. They really work hard and give
their best possible effort to bring honor for
Canada,” said Shalene’s mom, Edna, who
happens to be the sister of John’s mother,
Minda.
A total of 239 athletes from 39 countries
joined the annual tournament held last April
2-5.
USA Karate organized the three types
of competition namely, the North American
Cup, Junior International Cup and the US
Open.
This year would be a busy one for Lee
and Sawal as they embark on another
international tournament in the Pan Am
Games set to take place in Sta. Cruz,
Bolivia in August and a World Cup in
Indonesia this November.
Lee and Sawal were also participants
of numerous BC Winter Games in previous
years.
“I’m so happy and satisfied with my
performance,” says Shalene. “I hope I
can keep it up.” For his part, John, vows
to continue his well deserved success in
future international championships.
John and Shalane show off their respective medals
after a successful stint in 2015 Junior International
Cup karate championship.
Pascua pockets title in 2015
Canadian National Championship
By Alex Mino
Jenina Pascua wrestled her way to the
top after capturing the crown in the Cadet
division of this year’s National CadetJuvenile Wrestling Championship held last
month in Frederick, New Brunswick.
The 15-year-old lass needed to
overcome a sluggish start to register an
impressive win over Olivia Menard of L
‘Essor WC team.
Perseverance did wonders for Pascua,
who was pushed on the brink of losing an
all-important match by allowing the muchtaller Menard to scored quick nine points,
one point shy of winning the battle in the
first round.
But the eldest among the three
siblings pounced Menard in the last round
by pinning down the latter to emerge
victorious in the 40-kg weight class of
Women’s Freestyle event.
“I was actually a point from losing it,
if she score one more point I would have
lost it , but I guess I had a mental game
I don’t want to lose so when she tried to
grab me I reverse it and