Sawal focuses during his training session.
Filipino-Canadians Shalene Lee and John Sawal seek excellence and pride in the upcoming XXIV Pan Am Games Championship under 21 slated in Santa Cruz, Bolivia this month.
Fresh from a successful stint in Las Vegas a few month ago, cousins Lee and Sawal will be gunning consecutive victories in the karate event against some of the worlds’ best on August 21.
Lee, a product of Winston Churchill Secondary School, is pumped up following her triumph in the North American Cup, while Sawal hopes to dominate his own category like he did last April.
The two martial arts specialists are in high spirits after a fruitful campaign in their last outing.
Lee, who recently finished her secondary studies, gained effective skills after attending Junior National Training Camp together with Sawal and other participants held recently in Toronto, which coincides with the 2015 Pan Am Games.
“It really helps improve my skills and I enjoyed the experience,” says Lee.
It will be a big boost for her upcoming competition considering much tougher opponents await her.
On the other hand, the 19-year old Sawal admitted that he benefited a lot from week-long workshop.
“The event we attended was really interesting and encouraging, people there were great,” Sawal echoes.
The two teens were part of Karate Canada who attended the said camp where they engaged in various techniques and skills with others from all over Canada.
In the Pan Am Games Championship Under 21, they will be pitted against various hopefuls from USA, Brazil, Argentina, Asian contingents, Middle East countries to name a few.
Lee and Sawal expect a bigger challenge ahead since most of them are experienced and well trained.
