Christo and Puspa find it takes two for success

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Cebu City, Cebu

In a manner of speaking, they are "gold lovers".

Karatekas Christo Mondolu and Puspa Meonk, who are dating, also shared the joy of winning gold in the 2005 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games.

Christo and Puspa, both 23, were part of the teams that won gold in the men's and women's karate kumite team events; Christo also bagged gold in the men's individual kumite under 75 kilograms class.

Puspa missed out on gold, but added a silver to her medal collection in the women's individual kumite under 60 kgs. "Puspa and I are happy to have won golds in the kumite team, which are among the prestigious events," Christo said. "We also wanted to win gold in individual kumite, but it wasn't destined for both of us to do it."

Christo, who has been dating Puspa since August last year, said they motivated each other to do well.

"If I am down during a fight but I see Puspa supporting me, I get remotivated."

Before their kumite final bouts, the two practiced together. After a bout, regardless of the outcome, they are sure to hug each other. "Our dream is to win golds in the 2006 Asian Games and then get married," Christo said as Puspa nodded in agreement.

The two were friends for several years, but got to know each other better during 2003 SEA Games training in Tenggarong, East Kalimantan and Cisarua, West Java. "We just liked each other so the process of going out was quite smooth," said Puspa, a student of management and communication. "I saw Christo as a good guy who cared about me."

Romance has not affected their results in competition, which goes against the conventional wisdom.

"Some advised us that dating each other would put our careers as karatekas at risk because it would affect our focus on karate," said Christo, who hails from Central Sulawesi and now works for Bank Mandiri.

"But with these golds, we disproved that opinion."

If they eventually marry, they said they would not want their children to follow in their footsteps in karate.

"If I have children, I don't want to see them being hit," Puspa said. "I might guide them to do other sports rather than karate."

Christo acknowledges that karate has been a sport that made him mentally stronger.

"I was beaten up by a girl when I was very young," he said. "I cried, so my father put me in a karate school to learn to protect myself and build my confidence."