Pasay city: Sebastian Neil Ma±alac, Zian Alexander Sing, and Aeleyah Magrata are set to spearhead the Philippine contingent in the Karate One Youth League, which kicks off Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena. These three young athletes are among the top medal prospects in the tournament.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ma±alac, 17, has been a dominant force in his age group at the National Championships over the past five years and has consistently secured gold at the Batang Pinoy National Games. Earlier this year, Ma±alac clinched two victories in the junior kumite men's -68kg category at the Karate One Youth League's Fujairah leg in the United Arab Emirates. A graduate of Lourdes School of Mandaluyong, he also earned a gold and bronze at the 22nd Asian Cadet, Junior, and U21 Karate Championships in Pasig City, which propelled him to No. 8 in the World Karate Federation rankings for his age group. Two years prior, he had also made his mark by winning gold and bronze at the Asian Karate Federation Youth tournament in Wuhan, China.
Sing, also 17, achieved victory in the junior men's 61kg division at the 4th Shureido International Karate Cup in Jakarta last year. He further added to his accolades with wins at the 6th Manuel Veguillas Philippine International Open Karate Championship in 2025 and the recent Nationals held in Tagaytay City.
Magrata, competing in the women's -66kg kumite division, dominated the same category last year at the Karate Pilipinas Grand Winner tournament. She achieved gold in the juniors female intermediate kata and silver in the cadets female +61kg kumite category at the 2025 Batang Pinoy National Games in General Santos City.
Karate ng Pilipinas Sports Federation, Inc. president Ricky Lim expressed confidence in the trio, stating, "All three young karatekas have been training very hard, and I wouldn't be surprised if they figure prominently in the battle for gold in their respective age group categories." He further added, "There may be others, but for now, Ma±alac, Sing, and Magrata are our brightest hopes for the Karate One Youth League Manila leg."
