Chino Sy boosts Olympic aspirations with SEA Games gold in judo

CHONBURI, Thailand – Winning a gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games is a step in the right direction for Chino Sy in his bid to reach the Olympics.

The judoka from Davao City aided the Philippines’ golden cause as he reigned supreme in the men’s -100kg class at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi in Pathum Thani on Saturday, December 13.

Sy beat Indonesia’s Gede Ganding Kalbu Soethama via ippon in the final to capture the Philippines’ first judo gold in this edition. 

It is actually his third SEA Games medal, with each of them coming in a different sport as the 24-year-old bagged a sambo gold in 2019 and a wrestling silver in 2023. 

Sy, who won UAAP titles with the University of Santo Tomas in judo, returned to the sport as he aims to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. 

“That’s every athlete’s dream and this is a big step towards that dream. I’ll work for that dream, not just for myself but for my family and the Philippines,” said Sy in Filipino. 

“I really want to make the Olympic stage.” 

While he is adept in various martial arts, Sy said he will turn his full attention to judo, with a training camp in Taiwan lined up for him in 2026 as he gears up for Olympic qualification.

The Philippines has not had a male judoka see action in the Olympics since Kodo Nakano represented the country in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games. 

“I’ll be focusing on judo in the coming years until I qualify, hopefully, for the Olympics,” said Sy. – Rappler.com