FILIPINA judokas will take centerstage in the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) Rise Up Shape Up web program on Saturday.
Nicole Habierto, winner of the seniors white category at the Seventh Women’s Martial Arts Festival, will grace the episode starting at 10:30 a.m. along with Marq Gabrielle Padilla, Louiza Talaue, Erin Unice Nacida and Zoey Itliong.
Padilla bagged the gold medal in the seniors colored category, while Talaue topped the cadet class and Nacida and Itliong ruled the kids division.
“The remarkable performance of these young judokas exhibit women empowerment more than ever, especially in a male-dominated field,” said PSC Oversight Commissioner for Women in Sports Celia Kiram said.
Kiram also acknowledged the victories of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who took home the first-ever Olympic gold medal for the Philippines, and boxing silver medalist Nesthy Petecio in the Tokyo Olympics.
“Besides Hidilyn and Nesthy, we have these five young judokas showing us what girls and women can do in sports,” Kiram said. “I look forward to having more young girls and women joining sports because it is a field where women can excel as well.”
Kiram will also share a short history of judo in her K-Isport segment.