National team slots staked in Petron taekwondo tourney

The country’s leading taekwondo-jins will show their wares on Sunday as they seek berths on the Philippine team in the Petron CPJ Memorial Taekwondo Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

"This is one of our most important activities," says Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado. "Winners (in this event) will undergo rigorous training for participation in the US Open (in Tampa, Florida), the 16th Asian championships, the world university championships, the Korean Open, the ATF championships and the Kyung Joo Women’s international championships."

Around 500 jins from Metro Manila and the provinces are expected to compete in the senior men and women, junior men and women, mid-junior men and women and gradeschool boys and girls divisions.

Organizing committee chair and PTA vice president Sung Chon Hong said contestants will be matched according to weight in the senior level and height and age in the gradeschool division.

There are eight men’s and women’s categories—fin, fly, bantam, feather, light, welter, middle and heavy.

Among those participating in the event supported by Petron, the Philippine Sports Commission and Milo are Central Gym, De La Salle Taft and Zobel, Letran, DPS, UE, Ateneo, San Beda, Las Piñas, FEU, ISM, Claret, UST, Don Bosco Makati and Mandaluyong, Amoranto, Siena, UP Diliman, St. Scholastica’s College, Powerflex, St. Paul Pasig, Lion Heart, UTA, SMC, TKD East, Baguio, Batangas, Cain, Rizal, DLSU Dasmariñas, Laguna, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Cavite, Bacolod, Iloilo, PMA, PAF, Army, Navy, GHQ, PNP and PMMA.

All martial arts enthusiasts, especially children, are invited to watch the fights, which start at 9 a.m.