The Philippines finished fourth over-all in the just concluded 13th KOI Karate World Cup held at Megatrade Halls 1,2, and 3 of SM Megamall last 13-15 August 2004. The Philippines with 5 golds, 9 silvers and 32 bronzes finished fourth behind over-all champion Russia, 8 golds, Vietnam and Japan both had 6 golds but Vietnam had 3 silvers and 3 bronzes while Japan had only 1 silver and 1 bronze medal. In fifth position was Malaysia with 4 golds, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes.

MANUEL (POCHOLO) VEGUILLAS 8th Dan, Chairman of host AAK was satisfied with the performance of the team considering that in the past 2 KOI World Cup in Germany and Greece, they won 2 gold medals respectively.

Filipino gold medal winners are: ROBERTO MIGUEL VELASQUEZ in the 15 years old boys kumite, RAISSA MIKAELA VELASQUEZ in the 12-13 years old girls kumite and REBECCA CYRIL TORRES in the 10-11 years old girls kumite, KRISTOFFER NEBRIJA in the 9 years old boys kumite, MIGUEL AVENIDO in the 8 years old boys kumite.

Other countries that won medals were: New Zealand (4,3,1), Iran (3,5,5) Egypt (2,5,8) Kazakhstan (1,2,6), Italy (1,0,2) Kuwait (1,0,1),Northern Ireland (1,0,1), Hongkong (1,0,0) Latvia (1,0,0) Netherlands (1,0,0) Australia (0,2,1), Europe Selection, (0,1,0), Chinese Taipeh (0,0,3), Singapore (0,0,3), Fiji (0,0,1), Germany (0,0,1) and Slovenia (0,0,1). Only 4 countries did not win medals.

KOI President TOMMY MORRIS, 8th Dan express his satisfaction with the running of the championships that he is considering to bring back the World Cup to the Philippines in 2006 when the 18,000 seat coliseum to be built by SM at the Mall of Asia in Roxas Boulevard would have been finished.

Russia, Kuwait and the Netherlands are bidding for the next 14th KOI World Cup in 2005.

The KOI Karate World Cup was sponsored by the SM Supermalls, PEPSI, MILO, ACCEL, Panasonic, ASUS Notebook PC, The STAR, Island Photo, Largeformatics, JollIbee, Paramount Vinyl Products and the Department of Tourism.

RESULTS OF AAK TEAM PHILIPPINES

GOLD

1.ROBERTO MIGUEL VELASQUEZ - 15 YEARS OLD BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

2.RAISSA MIKAELA VELASQUEZ - 12-13 YRS OLD GIRLS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

3.REBECCA CYRIL TORRES - 10-11 YRS OLD GIRLS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

4.KRISTOFFER NEBRIJA - 9 YEARS OLD BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

5.MIGUEL AVENIDO - 8 YEARS OLD BOYS INDIVIDUAL KUMITE

SILVER

1.RAOUL E. X. RESURRECCION - MEN’S INDIVIDUAL KATA ( SHITORYU )

BRONZE

1.STEPHEN CHUA - MEN’S INDIVIDUAL KATA ( ALL-STYLES )