Future taekwondo heroes take mat

MANILA, Philippines —   Coming off a breakthrough showing at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) will stage the 2026 Smart/MVP Sports Foundation JPE National Age Group Taekwondo Championships starting this weekend at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Fully supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and Milo, the two-weekend tournament will feature Kyorugi (Free Sparring) on Nov. 7-8 and Poomsae (Forms) on Nov. 15.

Named in honor of the association’s first president, the late senator Juan Ponce Enrile, the event aims at discovering promising athletes who will carry the country’s flag in major international competition and replicate the golden performance of poomsae ace Jeus Gabriel Yape in the continental showpiece.

Overall, the association, under the able leadership of Grandmaster Hong, also won three silver medals courtesy of Tachiana Mangin, Kurt Barbosa, and Juliana Candelearia, alongside the bronze also produced by Yape.

The Kyorugi competition will feature divisions for Junior (U17), Cadet (U14), Grade School (9 to 11) and Toddler (8 and below) for male and female competitors. Each category will include Novice and Advance divisions.

Poomsae competition will include Recognized Poomsae and Freestyle Poomsae, divided into four categories for both male and female participants.