Philip Delarmino nominated for World Games Athlete of the Year
THE 2021 World Games Athlete of the Year could be a Filipino — Muay Thai fighter Philip Delarmino.
The 31-year-old Mr. Delarmino, who delivered the country a historic World Championships gold medal in the sport in Phuket, Thailand in December last year, was one of the 24 from 17 countries nominated for the prestigious award.
It was another first for Mr. Delarmino, who was the first Filipino to get a nomination the World Games body.
And if he ends up eventually winning it, Mr. Delarmino writes history again.
“The first Filipino athlete to be nominated in the World Games Athlete of the Year. What an achievement,” said Muay Thai Association of the Philippine secretary-general Pearl Managuelod.
Mr. Delarmino and the other nominees, who came from various sports disciplines, were selected in the ninth edition of this yearly awards based on individual or team performance, social commitment, or fair behavior.
The winner will be decided via an online voting process that starts on Monday and ends on Jan. 31.
Last year’s winner was Rani Rampal, captain of India’s women’s hockey team. — Joey Villar
