The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Fierre Afan is eyeing to represent the country in the highest tournament abroad as he’s bracing for the upcoming 2023 World Combat Games on October 21 to 30 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia while pursuing his study in sports science at University of the Philippines (UP).
“It’s very tiring after training because I have to attend my class in UP for my scholarship,” the 19-year-old Afan said a few weeks after winning the United World Wrestling (UWW) United World Grappling Asian Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan last June.
“But I want to be successful so that’s okay.”
Afan, who is residing in Marikina City but spending his time training in Sucat, Parañaque City under the DEFTAC-Ribeiro gym, believes he can balance both academics and being an athlete all the time with the help of the people around him as he sets his eyes on the World Combat Games.
“First of all, I would like to thank all my teammates who encouraged me, salute to my teammates who believe in me all the time. I also want to finish a college degree,” he added. “I won’t be around here if my
teammates were not there to help me, and they are still here.”
He explained that the physical part is very hard to strengthen, but the mental part is harder than that to sharpen all the time due to several circumstances and personal things that he cannot divulge.
“I’d like to express my sacrifices but I can’t,” Afan said, who highlighted his campaign in Astana with a big win over Kazakhstan World Champion Artem Khvan in U-20 no-gi junior class.
At his young age, he also showed the world that he’s capable of winning as he ruled the U-19 class by winning two gold medals in the junior category before settling for two silvers in the senior division at that Astana tourney.
“I strengthened my body physically and of course my mindset for 15 years, but it was the mental part which served to be the hardest.”
Alvin Aguilar, the president of Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP), acknowledged Afan’s hard work and sacrifices throughout the years, saying the young grappler who already fought some huge fights during his early years will definitely capture glorious moments for Philippine sports.
“We believe in Fierre, his hard work and sheer determination to succeed has been tested at his early age — and he just did it not once but twice already,” Aguilar said. “He will give our country more medals, gold medals, not just in the continental side but also in the world stage.”
Aguilar referred to Afan’s performance when he qualified for the World Combat Games after clinching a bronze medal in the qualifying round in Tashkent, Uzbekistan last May.
Afan, who watches some MMA fights in Universal Reality Combat Championship, said he even tried to be an MMA fighter before but admitted he needs to improve his striking abilities.
“I’m focusing on grappling sports, jiu-jitsu, judo and wrestling for now,” Afan said. “I’m concentrating on improving my understanding how to be effective on my technique during crucial times. It’s better you know what you’re doing than why you’re doing it at the same time.”