March 28, 2024

Team Lakay’s Gina Iniong-Araos wants to get back and make another run for the title after giving birth to her first child that brought a new perspective in her life as a married mixed martial arts athlete.
“I concentrated on my family life. I got married and I had been blessed with a baby girl, so I have been dedicating my time taking good care of her,” said Araos, who was a kickboxing gold medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
At 32 years old, Araos said there is one thing that has not left her system – the itch to fight inside the ONE Championship circle following a life-changing experience.
Before her gold medal triumph in the SEA Games, Araos earned a split decision win over Hayatun Jihin Radzuan of Malaysia in February 2019. She also nailed a unanimous decision victory over Asha Roka of India in January 2020.
Her performance in those last two fights allowed her to move up to top five in ONE’s women’s atomweight rankings before her inactivity bumped her off the list.
That’s why there’s no denying the fire lit under Araos, as she seeks to get back to action soon, especially after seeing her stablemates in the famed Team Lakay Gym fight in recent fight cards.
However, she also knows that getting back to her old deadly shape takes time, embracing the process she needs to undergo under the watch of coach Mark Sangiao.
“I’ve been out for a while so I need some time to get back in fight form. As of now I’m taking it one day at a time. I want to be fully prepared when I come back,” she said.
For now, though, she’s happy to pick her spots and take her time to scout the competition, all the more with ONE’s women’s atomweight division as deep and more competitive than ever.
“I’m excited to see all the best atomweights compete with each other. I’m also amazed at how the division has grown,” Araos said. – Harley F. Palangchao