4 MVPSF jins vie in world meet

MANILA, Philippines — Four elite members of the Smart/MVPSF Philippine women’s team will be put to the test when they compete in the World Taekwondo Women’s Open Championships from Aug. 28 to 30 in Taiyuan, China.

The Philippine Taekwondo Association, led by Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, believes their battle-tested players can go toe-to-toe against world-class rivals after undergoing intensive training in Korea.

The members of the team, fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo, are Tachiana Keiza Mangin, Clarence Sarza, Baby Jessica Canabal and Czarina Mae Danganan.They go for glory in a tough event that will feature jins from 59 other countries, including Korea, China, Iran and Thailand.

After becoming the first Filipino world junior champion two years ago, Mangin, 18, made a triumphant debut at the 2025 Thailand SEA Games, and she is now regarded as the face of Philippine taekwondo.

Sarza is coming off a bronze medal finish at the 27th Asian Taekwondo Championships, while Canabal and Danganan also made their marks in their previous international stints.

Grandmaster Hong said the event is part of the association’s massive preparation for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.