Philippine jins peg training camp in Korea

MANILA, Philippines —   In a desire to win its first-ever Asian Games gold medal, the Smart/MVPSF Philippine taekwondo team, led by Tokyo Games veteran Kurt Barbosa and SEA Games champion Tachiana Keizha Mangin, will take part in two major competitions in Korea.

The country has already garnered close to 30 medals since its maiden campaign in the continental showpiece exactly 40 years ago in Seoul but none of them was gold.

To realize its dream of winning the ultimate prize, the Philippine Taekwondo Association, under Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, has decided to send its top athletes – 39 of them – to Korea to train intensively at the same time test their readiness for the quadrennial event and three other important events of the year.

The Filipino Kyorugi bets, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo, will first vie in the Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships from July 18 to 22 before vying in the Kim Un-yong Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships in Jung-gu, Seoul from July 25 to 28.

Afterwards, the Phl jins will stay in Korea for further training at Kyung Hee University. Poomsae hopefuls are currently training at TS Taekwondo since July 9.

The members of the Smart/MVPSF PH taekwondo team are Merica Lillyn Chan, Baby Jessica Canabal, Nicolas Aaron Castillo, Brendan Ysrael Hugh Boteros, Reymundo Calamba III, Kenneth Riley Buenavides, Aljen Aynaga, Dave Cea, Tachiana Keizha Mangin, Laila Delo, Cheska Paula Banawa. Kneeling are Samantha Gley Duria, Jubilee Briones, Clarence Sarza, Jay-r Casas, Justin Kobe Macario, Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, Dominic Joaquin Tuzon, King Nash Alcairo, Patrick King Perez, Ian Matthew Corton, Darius Venerable, and Laizel Angela Abucay. Sitting are Stella Nicole Yape, Janna Dominique Oliva, Zyka Angelica Santiago, Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, Jocel Lyn Ninobla, Sofia Ysabelle Sarmiento, Nicole Labayne, Aidaine Krishia Laxa, Aesha Kiara Oglayon, Julianna Martha Uy.