ONE Championship atomweight Gina Iniong has won a gold medal at the 2022 Sea Games. She defeated Waraporn Jaiteang in the finals of the <60kgs low kick kickboxing competition.
Iniong found herself up against a familiar foe in the semi finals. She was matched with ONE Championship atomweight Jihin Radzuan who was representing Malaysia.
The two faced off at ONE: ‘Clash of Legends’ in 2019 with Iniong claiming a split decision win:
Gina Iniong uses all her tools to grind out a split-decision victory over the previously unbeaten Jihin Radzuan! #WeAreONE #ClashOfLegends #Bangkok #MartialArts pic.twitter.com/CLq1AhPJjD
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) February 16, 2019
Clear cut
This time around Iniong’s win was even more clear cut with her winning 3-0 to secure a place in the final. Radzuan had to settle for a bronze medal.
Honorio Banario was also representing the Philippines. The former ONE Championship featherweight champion did not fare as well as his teammate Iniong.
He faced Cambodia’s Lvay Chhoeung in the semi final. But Banario was beaten 3-0 in a result that surprised many in the Philippines:
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Third gold
They were not the only Team Lakay members on the podium. Jean Claude Saclag claimed a gold medal in Hanoi, competing in low kick kickboxing in the <63.5kgs category.
It was the third time Saclag had won this particular competition. He also earned gold medals at the SEA Games in 2019 and 2021.
This time around he faced Chaleamlap Santidongsakun of Thailand in the final. Saclag prevailed by a margin of 2-1 to finish on top of the podium.
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Other stars
Saglag has not been able to replicate his SEA Games success on the MMA stage. His sole fight came in 2019 when he dropped a decision to Ryo Okada on his debut, although going the distance with one of Japan’s top flyweights is an achievement in itself.
Iniong has been able to enjoy success in both sports. She won a gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games and has an MMA record of 9-4, although she has been out of action for nearly two years following the birth of her child.
Other ONE Championship stars to enjoy success at the SEA Games include Eduard Folayang. He won gold medals at the SEA Games in 2003, 2005 and 2011.
