PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Just moments after jiu-jitsu bet Kaili Napolis delivered the country’s first gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, Angel Derla struck and won the second gold in kun bokator, an obscure sport she only got to learn recently.
Derla, a 19-year-old pencak silat practitioner, earned 8.5 points to rule the women’s bamboo shield, a feat she gives credit to the advice of Philsilat Sports Association Inc. leaders Inier Candor and Princess Jacel Kiram.
“I’m thankful for Ma’am Princess and for Sir Inier, thank you for the trust. When I learned about a new sport, I took the risk and I agreed immediately,” Derla said.
“I was able to learn the moves and our background in martial arts molded us to execute well in kun bokator,’ she said.
Kun Bokator is the quintessential Cambodian martial art that incorporates elbow blows, shin strikes, locks and grapples.
Derla and Napolis were the only Filipino entries who topped their respective events prior to the opening of the 11-nation sportsfest at the Morodok Techo National Stadium.
Despite getting a gold, Derla, an Our Lady of Fatima University-Laguna freshman, admits it could be anyone’s game.
“I’m not thinking about the other countries because I know all of us prepared well for this,” Derla said.
For Candor, he is happy for Derla grabbing the opportunity to represent the country in a different sport.
“I gave her the task. From Pencak Silat, she has to learn kun bokator and her efforts have been rewarded,” Candor said.
