Precious ranking points will be at stake when the Manila leg of the Karate One Youth League fires off from 14 to 17 May at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Karate Pilipinas president Richard Lim said the tournament will boost the morale of the members of the national youth squad as they will be able to face the best young karatekas in the world while gaining precious ranking points that can be carried over to the senior level.

Around 3,000 athletes are expected to join this prestigious event that is organized by the World Karate Federation and bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which is actively supporting the country’s hosting of various international events as part of the government’s drive to boost sports tourism.

“That’s why in the Youth League, there are six legs in one year. Some even join all six legs because this is to accumulate points,” said Lim, who was joined by PSC chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in the press launch on Friday.

“It is important because 50 percent of the points you get from the Youth League will be transferred to your senior category.”

The Youth League started in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last 12 to 15 February while the second leg will be held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 27 to 29 March. The other legs will be in Porec, Croatia from 2 to 5 July, Guadalajara, Mexico from 17 to 21 September and Venice, Italy from 10 to 13 December.

Should the inaugural Manila leg be a success, Lim said they will do the competition again in the future.

“Well, if we do this well and the hosting is run perfectly, we will actually be given the go-signal to host it for the next three years. But of course, we have to look at it first. We really want to do it, but we also have to learn how to do it properly,” Lim said.

“We received approval to host the Southeast Asia event in the Philippines. They are also considering Malaysia, but a lot of people would rather have it in the Philippines because of our sports tourism, because they can go to a lot of places.”

Gregorio said the Manila leg will only jack up the country’s grassroots efforts as it pits the local bets against talented foreign fighters.

“It is developing the grassroots to have international competitions in their own place. There are karate athletes who didn’t join that will aspire to compete one day,” Gregorio said.

“That is the beauty of what we are doing. It is an exciting moment for Philippine sports both in developing our athletes and as a sports tourism destination.”