SEAG titlists Junna Tsukii, Jamie Lim to see action in Karate-1 Premier League ahead of Vietnam Games

Reigning Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Junna Tsukii and Jamie Lim are getting some much-needed experience ahead of their title defense in the upcoming Vietnam SEA Games on May 12.

According to Karate Pilipinas president Ricky Lim, both Lim and Tsukii are seeing action in the 2022 Karate-1 Premier League slated from February 18 to 20 in Fujairah, UAE. The event was originally scheduled to take place in Dubai.

The 30-year-old Tsukii and the 24-year-old Lim will compete in the female kumite -50kg and female -61 kg category, respectively.

The tournament will serve as the karatekas' last match before flying to Hanoi for the biennial meet where the Philippines is also eyeing to defend its overall championship title.

Both Tsukii and Lim were coming off silver medal finishes in the 2021 Asian Karate Championships held in Almaty, Kazakhstan late last month, a feat that formally booked their slots in the Fujairah competition.

"After the Asian [Karate Championships], Junna went back to Japan to take some rest but her training and our communication are consistent," Lim told GMA News Online. "After that break, she will come here but will go straight to the Premier League where Jamie is also competing."

After the Premier League, Tsukii and Lim will join the other national team members who have already started with their bubble training at the PSC compound in Teachers Camp in Baguio just last January 17.

"We have high hopes for these two girls and this competition will really help them prepare for the SEA Games," added the official. "We're expecting a great campaign in the SEA Games not only from Jamie and Junna but also from the whole national team."

—JMB, GMA News