Phl to host online speed kicking meet

This is a really big development because our athletes have been training individually, and also virtually, for the past months

The Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) continues its buildup in its bid to book an elusive ticket in the Tokyo Olympics.

PTA grassroots director Stephen Fernandez said that they will be hosting the 2020 Global Taekwondo Online Speed Kicking

Championships from 23 to 25 October, a first of its kind in the world and is timely in the time of pandemic.

According to Fernandez, the virtual contest will boost the country’s preparation for the Summer Games and the Asian Qualification Tournament before it.

“This is a really big development because our athletes have been training individually, and also virtually, for the past months,” Fernandez told in a telephone interview over the weekend.

“We wanted to keep them busy and keep their health and shape intact as well.”

Fernandez bared that Olympic hopefuls in Pauline Lopez, Kristie Alora, Arven Alcantara, Samuel Thomas Morrison and Kurt Barbosa have been busy during the lockdown by participating in some local speed kicking events.

But he bared that joining competitions with international rivals would give them edge once physical competitions are already allowed.

The official said the tourney will be participated by the Philippine national taekwondo team, with the Olympic bets at the helm, along with 1,000 delegates from all over the world including Japan, Korea, Guam, Ethiopia, Mexico, Iran and United States.

Participants will have to perform the most number of kicks in a span of one minute and a set of virtual judges will be giving out the scores based on technical (number of kicks) and overall performance (quality of techniques).

We wanted to keep them busy and keep their health and shape intact as well.

Only athletes in blackbelt degree, though, will be allowed to join where cadets (12 to 14 years old), junior (15 to 17) and senior (18 and above) will be featured.

Fernandez cited the need to keep their athletes active despite the fact that the pandemic has stopped almost every operation across the globe, especially sports.

“This is the only way, I think,” he said. “Almost everyone is now online and we have to take advantage of that and give our athletes a platform to still compete and improve their game.”

As of now, only four Filipinos — Carlos Yulo, EJ Obiena, Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno — have earned their slot for the Summer Games next year.

PTA, however, hopes to add more names to that list in the coming months.