Coran wins bronze for Phl in World tikefest

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuana Mayn Coran made history as the first and the youngest local taekwondo jin to win a medal in the 2014 World Cadet Championships done in Azerbaijan.

The 14-year-old Coran handed a hard-earned bronze not only for Team Cebu but for the rest of the national team.

Cebu has been a home of world class talents in poomsae (taekwondo forms), but Coran showed her skills as she produced the first ever medal in kyorugi (sparring) for her team.

Coran snared the bronze despite the tough competition against 34 entries from all over the world under the lightweight class.

After her impressive campaign in the World Championships, Coran gained a lot of praises including from Philippine Taekwondo Association regional chairman Tony del Prado who described her as someone “made of stern stuff.”

Coran’s journey to becoming one of the world’s best did not came in easy, but she succeeded with the aid of Team Cebu.

Earlier this year, Coran did not made it to the national team after losing in the Carlos Palanca Jr. National Taekwondo Championships in Manila.

But del Prado’s group appealed to the top officials and coaches of the PTA to take a second look at the Cebuana athlete.

“We had to appeal to Philippine Taekwondo Association  CEO Grand master Hong that she be given and second look on the merits of her achievement prior to the elimination. It was granted and now she won a bronze for the country,” said Del Prado.

After her inclusion in the national training pool, Coran then proved her worth by winning the gold in the recent Palarong Pambansa, beating much older opponents including World Junior Taekwondo Championship silver medallist Thea Bermejo of  Western Visayas.

With her sterling performance in the Palaro in Laguna, national coaches had no more doubts on her inclusion to the trip to Azerbaijan. (FREEMAN)