Smart jins vie in World GP

MANILA, Philippines - Carrying the colors of the Smart Taekwondo team, top jins John Paul Lizardo, Christian Al dela Cruz and Kirstie Elaine Alora will vie in the World Taekwondo Grand Prix set Aug. 29-31 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Lizardo will compete in the -58 kilogram division, Dela Cruz in -80 kg and Alora in the -67 group in the event which stakes berths in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Only the world’s top 32 players based in the latest World Taekwondo Federation ranking have been invited to participate in the event, one of the series of qualifying tournaments for the 2016 Olympics.

The competition also serves as part of the Philippine Taekwondo Association’s preparation for the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

PTA officer-in-charge Hong Sung Chon is confident that the Smart bets – all veteran international campaigners – will perform well in the Grand Prix.

The three Filipino jins’ participation is supported by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart Communications Inc., PLDT, TV5 and the Philippine Sports Commission.