HIGH KICKS
6 CEBUANO TAEKWONDO JINS IN WORLD MEET
Some of Cebu’s top taekwondo jins will don the country’s colors in the biggest annual poomsae meet next month in Chinese Taipei.
Former world champion and Asian Games bronze medalist Rinna Babanto, McAvynger Alob, Aidaine Laxa, Johann Concepcion, Alyssa Llenes and Francis Arquero will be suiting up for the country in the Taipei 2018 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships in Taipei City, Chinese-Taipei.
Philippine Taekwondo Association Region 7 chairman Tony del Prado believes that the Philippines will be in for some tough competition, especially from the Asian powerhouses teams which will be expected to be in full force.
“The world championships is much tougher when it is held in Asia. The powerhouse poomsae teams are mostly found in this continent. Korea, Taipei, Vietnam and Thailand, to name a few, will no doubt send a full contingent,” said del Prado.
Cebu is known for its talented poomsae players and regularly contributes to the the Philippine national taekwondo squad.
One of the most regarded female poomsae players is Babanto, who has already won a gold medal in the tournament. The 20-year-old jin, who’s a varsity for De La Salle University, is fresh from a bronze medal finish in the women’s team event of the Asian Games.
Alob, another promising jin, won two gold medals in the World Taekwondo Hanmadang in South Korea last month.
Del Prado sees both of them as the country’s best bets of winning a medal.
“Not only will they be competing for medals, but for bragging rights as well,” he said. “We’re in for a grueling tournament.”
Glenn Lava, a multi-titled world champion in the poomsae meet, is also being considered in the event but according to de Prado, the roster for the 30 to 37 division of the Philippines hasn’t been announced. /