Ace jins vie in Elite Taekwondo

MANILA, Philippines – Around 300 of taekwondo’s best blackbelters are expected to compete in the 2009 Smart Philippine Elite Taekwondo Championships tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

According to Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado, only the best athletes from NCR and 16 other regions are eligible to vie for honors. These are members of the Taekwondo Blackbelt Brotherhood-Sorority (TBB/TBS) and the Philippine Taekwondo Contingents, who can become future national athletes and leaders of the sport’s community.

With the increase in number of elite athletes and the improvement of their skills to world-class level, the tourney provides the best opportunity to set standards in different fighting categories.

“Our elite athletes will certainly learn new techniques and develop camaraderie,” says organizing committee chairman Sung Chon Hong.

There will be individual and Masters competition for senior men and women, junior men and women and grade school boys and girls. Participation in the Masters will be determined by age as follows: Master (A)-TBB, 30 years old and below, Master (B)-TBB, 31-40 and below and Master (C)-TBB, 41 and above.

Action in the tournament supported by Smart Communications, PLDT, Milo and the Philippine Sports Commission will start at 9 a.m.