Igorot fighter who refused to wear brief wins SEA Games gold

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2019 05:43:47 +0000

FILIPINO martial artist Crisamuel Delfin was reluctant to wear underwear beneath his traditional loincloth. (AFP)

A Filipino martial artist was prepared to give up his chance of winning a Southeast Asian Games title because he didn’t want to wear underpants beneath his traditional loincloth.

Crisamuel Delfin eventually picked up gold for his weapon-wielding anyo routine in the arnis competition, but only after he was persuaded to wear skimpy underwear to avoid a wardrobe malfunction on live television.

“In the Ifugao Igorot culture, it’s an insult to the cultural traditions if you wear undergarments under the loincloth,” Senator Miguel Zubiri, the Philippines Arnis Federation president, told AFP on Wednesday.

The former world champion said Delfin’s coach had a long argument with judges who had got their knickers in a twist, insisting the fighter wore underpants during his acrobatic routine in case the loincloth fell off and he was left “completely naked”.

But the coach told them: “Well, I believe my athlete will just have to be disqualified.”

Zubiri said he stepped in at the Angeles University Foundation venue and convinced the trainer to “work something out”.

“I knew this boy could win gold,” he said.

The senator met with the team and suggested: “Why don’t we get a thong, like a string bikini brief, or something like that?

“Eventually he agreed to wear it. He was willing to be disqualified.”

Filipino ‘arnisadors’ are fiercely proud of their country, and the sport that symbolises their spirit of defiance.

Moments after winning go
http://tempo.com.ph/feed/