Nine year-old Romeo Viktor “PaoPao” Enriquez, a Grade 4 student of Ateneo de Manila University representing the Philippines, won the gold medal in the U12 Kumite Male (40-plus kilograms) division at the 3rd Asian Karate Youth Open Championship and Training Camp in Lingping, Hangzou, China. The boy is a member of the Fight Alliance Sports Team – ISKF and coached by Sensei Engene Dagohoy, a national coach and former team captain of the Philippine national karate team. PaoPao’s participation at the Asian Karate Youth Open Championship is made possible through the support of Namayan Digital, Inc.
Dad Boom Enriquez announced PaoPao’s victory on his Facebook page on July 24, 2026.
The win is made more significant since this is first international tournament of PaoPao. He told Fullcourtfresh.com, “I wanted to be a karate-ka because when I first tried it, I thought it was fun and it is. My motivation is my family and my friends. My influence is my parents.”
The young karateka is definitely happy about this latest achievement. At only nine years old, he has imbibed the mindset of a serious athlete. PaoPao said, “I train so hard for competitions. What I also like is the teamwork.” The Philippine team to the Asian Karate Youth Open Championship is composed of six other athletes from different clubs.
PaoPao trains at least three times a week for two to three hours each training day. When there are international meets, the sessions are held daily.
The Asian Karate Youth Camp and Championship (AYCC) is organized by the Asian Karate Federation (AKF) to develop skills and foster camaraderie. Major General Nasser Al Razooqi, President of the Asian Karate Federation, said in a message, “The AYCC was established as a beacon for our youngest talents… The stage is designed to test limits, showcase discipline and forge friendships that transcend borders.”
Winning gold at the AYCC has inspired PaoPao and the Enriquez family—dad Boom, mom Vina and younger brother Jack Jack (a footballer)—to keep striving for excellence.
Vying for international competitions and national tournaments, particularly the Villegas Cup in August and Batang Pinoy in December, are next for the young karateka. “It is going to be a busy second half of 2026 for PaoPao,” said dad Boom.
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