6-8 GOLDS TARGET NG PH JINS SA SEAG

Taekwondo

ANIM hanggang walong gold medals ang puntirya ng Philippine Taekwondo Association sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games na gaganapin sa bansa sa Nobyembre.

“Modesty aside that is my target and I am pretty optimistic they will do it because they have the skills, battle-tested and well-experienced competed in numerous overseas competitions and trained in Korea under Korean coach,” sabi ni PTA executive director Sung Chon Hong.

“Also our men and women poomsae teams are strong capable to win the gold. They won bronze in the last Asian Games in Indonesia,” sabi pa ng 69-anyos na Koreano na permanenteng naninirahan sa bansa magmula pa noong 70s.

Aniya, hindi pa nabobokya ang mga Pinoy mula nang laruin ang taekwondo sa SEA Games noong 1987 sa Indonesia.

“Taekwondo is a consistent medal winner and our fighters are serious and determined to preserve the good record in the SEA Games. Our jins will be inspired to win because SEA Games will be held in the Philippines,” sabi pa niya.

Ani Hong, bibigyan niya ng mahabang exposures sa labas ng bansa ang kanyang tropa at muling mag-eensayo sa Korea para  mahasa nang husto at lumawak ang karanasan bago sumabak sa SEA Games.

“We will give them enough exposures to sharpen their skills and broaden their experience fighting top calibre foreign rivals,” sambit ni Hong.

Kasama sa medal prospects ang mga beteranong sina Filipino-American Samuel Harper Morrison, Brazil Olympian Kirstie Alora, Christopher Uy, Pauline Lopez at ang poomsae teams nina Jerom Dominguez, Rodolfo Reyes Jr., at Justine Mella, Rina Babanto, Juvenile  Faye Crisostomo at Janna Dominque Oliva.

Ang pinakamagandang showing ng taekwondo sa SEA Games ay noong 1991 sa Maynila kung saan sumipa ito ng pitong ginto, dalawang pilak at limang tanso.

Ang mga gold medalist noon ay sina Ramil Abratique, Ulysses Marcelino, Walter Dean Vargas, Ma. Nelia Sy, Bea Lucero, Digne de Leon at Sharon Sowy.

Ang taekwondo ay isa sa mahigit 10 combat sports na kasama sa 56 sports na lalaruin sa 30th edition ng biennial meet, tampok ang mahigit 10,000 atleta mula sa 11 bansa na kasapi ng rehiyon. CLYDE MARIANO

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