DAVAO CITY — The city’s fast achieving karate athletes will see action in the coming 2026 BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asian Growth Area) Games that will be held from 23 to 27 November in Malaysia.

Karate Pilipinas Sports Federation Inc. regional director Rommel Tan said they are glad to represent the country anew in the prestigious showpiece that aims to establish friendship and sportsmanship as well as growth in trade, investments, and tourism among four countries.

“We are happy to represent the country again,” said Tan at the Davao Sportswriters Association Forum on Thursday.

Tan also announced that among seeing action are Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy veterans — Atsuko Kaiyel Tan, Yesha Lee Ho, Princess Ambus, Geshane Dabalos, Eduardo Berco III, Jet Lu, Charles Ferrer, Mic Mompoc and coaches Al Stephen Magatao and John Albert Albarico.

“It will be a lean but mean line-up but we hope to surpass last year’s medal campaign,” said Tan, who will also serve as the team’s manager during the BIMP-EAGA Games.

Tan also announced that he is elated that karate will now be part of the Palarong Pambansa sporting events.

“We just received from the Department of Education that karate will be included in the Palarong Pambansa. During the previous Palarong Pambansa, it was only an exhibition but now it will be added in the medal tally,” he said.