Filipinos to vie in Asian Junior Taekwondo championships

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-seven Filipino athletes will make a bid for another successful international taekwondo when they compete in the 2017 Asian Junior Championships on April 19-21 in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

Sixteen jins – nine males and seven females – will carry the Meralco/MVP Sports Foundation colors in the kyorugi (free sparring) competition while 11 others five males and six females – will banner  PLDT Home Ultera/MVP Sports Foundation in the Poomsae (forms) event.

The Filipino competitors are:

Kyorugi (Male) – Gabriel Elpidio Lamarca (-45kg), Dinneson Wilrej Caneda (-48 kg), Raymundo Alombro III (-51 kg), Carlo Dominic Dionisio (-55 kg), Sturdy Jay Gilbuena (-59 kg), Harley Vincent Santos (-63 kg), Gabriel Salaknib Soria (-68 kg), Mark Arby Gariega (-73 kg) and Alvaro Joaquin Aranton (-78 kg);

(Female) – Ezra Balingit (-42 kg), Abigail Faye Valdez (-44 kg), Laizel Angela Abucay (-46 kg), Rryshel Jasmine Ramirez (-49 kg), Beatrice Kassandra Gaerlan (-55 kg), Florence Mae Chavez (-59 kg) and Laila Delo (-63 kg).

Poomsae (Forms) Male – Patrick King Perez, Justin Carlo Mendoza, Jesie Daniel Ignacio, Justin Kobe Macario and Shane Jeremy Benavente.  Female – Jade Ashley Carno, Chelsea Xen Tacay, Daphne Ching, Maria Aliana Erece, Aldaine Krisha Laxa and Lee Robiegayle Navales.

Five officials are accompanying the team. They are Tem Igor Mella (head of delegation), Alvin Taraya and Napoleon Dagdagan Jr. (Kyorugi coaches), Rani Ann Ortega (Poomsae coach) and Jeordan Dominguez, Poomsae trainer).

The prestigious Asian Junior Championships will be participated in by 39 other countries like Korea, Iran, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Thailand.

The Philippines has always been considered among the top contenders in international taekwondo competitions.

Last month, Smart/MVP Sports Foundation jins bagged 16 medals, including five golds, in the 2017 ASEAN Championships in Perlis, Malaysia.