Kickboxing champion Saclag prepares for SEA Games 2023

Kalinga, Philippines - After clinching gold in the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2022, Mixed Martial Arts athlete Jean Claude Saclag of Lubuagan, Kalinga is back in tough training to prepare for the next season of the sports event slated next month.

Saclag, a two-time Sea Games gold medalist under the 63kg low kick category, admitted he is under pressure. He said he knows his opponents are reviewing his moves and most likely finding his weakness as a window to defeat him. He, however, remains focused on the goal by training hard.

"(Ammok) irev-review da nu kasanu da siyak nga maabak isu nga medyo adda pressure na tatta ngem mas focus nak ti training tatta. Karkaru diay kalaban mi, tatta ket amin da ket napan da abroad sa for training," Saclag told Station 1 Radio in an interview on March 30.

Saclag initially trained with the Cordilleran martial arts group Team Lakay based in Baguio City, then recently went on to train with the Philippine Sports Commission in Manila for his two-month Sea Games preparation.

He disclosed that a former kickboxing world champion was hired to train him and his fellow kickboxing athletes to improve their fighting skills.

Saclag shared that he trains twice a day: 2 hours in the morning and another 2 hours in the afternoon. His training requires an intense amount of exercises that help in his cardiovascular conditioning and in building his endurance, speed, and agility.

Asked if there is a particular strict diet instructed to him, he said “haan met nga istruktuwan ngem part ti discipline ko diay iti bagik nga mangbantay iti sarilik ta diay ti maysa nga pinakaimportante gamin diay iti maysa nga athlete.”

Meantime, Saclag conveyed gratitude to people who follow his journey and have always been expressing their support to him and their entire team.

“Ag-thank you kami kanyada iti kanayun nga pagsuporta da kanyami. Adda met lang dagiay duwwa nga taga Kalinga nga kadwak nga agay-ayam tatta nga dati met lang nga team-mates ko. Sapay kuma ta haan kayu maum-uma nga mang-sup-support kanyami.

“Nu makita mi lang dagiay ipo-post yu nga makitkita mi nga mangsup-support kanyami ket dakkel nga tulong diayen nga mag-boost iti confidence mi. Ikar-kararag yu met lang dakami ta aramiden mi met ti kabaelan mi para iti Kalinga ken Pilipinas,” he said.

Saclag will be representing the Philippines in the 32nd edition SEA Games alongside two yKalinga MMA kickboxers. The biennial multi-sport event will be held from May 5 to May 16, 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

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