MANILA, Philippines – Carrying the colors of Smart/MVP Sports Foundation, the Philippine taekwondo jins made international waves once again recently by winning one gold, four silver and two bronze medals in the 2016 Korea Open championships at Geongju City, Korea.
Middleweight Alvaro Joaquin Aranton led the Filipinos’ creditable performance in the 53-country competition by bagging the gold medal in the junior men’s free sparring event.
The silver winners also in free sparring were heavyweight John Shadrack Tan in junior men and bantamweight Veronica Garces, Jessica Canabal and welterweight Florence Mae Chavez, all in junior women while bantamweight Raymundo Alombro III bagged a bronze in junior men.
The other bronze came from the women’s team of Elizabella Cesista, Angelica Joyce Gaw and Clare Therese Gascon in poomsae.
“It was a well-deserved finish for our taekwondo bets in the strong field of 2,480 participants,” said Philippine Taekwondo Association OIC Sung Chon Hong.
The Filipino athletes were supported in their participation by PLDT (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.), Meralco, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.