Pinoys capture two golds
THE Philippines captured two golds in the recently-concluded Online 2021 World Taekwondo Asia Poomsae Open Championships.
June Ninobla, coming from a family of taekwondo practitioners, ruled in the men’s under-60 category after posting 7.430 points, beating Liao Yun-Cheng of Chinese Taipei, who settled for the silver with 7.090 points.
Australia’s Ill Joong Yang and India’s Balram Yadav took the bronzes with 6.940 and 6.770, respectively.
The 51-year old Ninobla placed third together with her daughter Jocel in the family pair category with a 7.790.
Teenage wonder Cyd Edryc Esmaña also bagged a gold for the Philippines, as the Iloilo native topped the men’s cadet individual category with 7.680 points.
Esmaña defeated bets from Hong Kong, South Korea and Thailand.
National poomsae coach Rani Ortega was satisfied the way her troops performed in the three-day virtual competition.
“Proud of each and everyone of you! Thank you for all your hard work! Thank you for always giving your best!” said Ortega through her Facebook account Wednesday night.
The Philippines also bagged two silvers courtesy of brothers Vincent and Paul Rodriguez in the family pair category, and Shellah Agman in the female individual Children 1 class.
In the female individual freestyle, University of the Philippines product Nikki Oliva bagged the bronze medal, while the male individual under-30 bronze went to former University of Santo Tomas standout Rodolfo Reyes Jr. La Salle standout Angelica Gaw also achieved a podium finish in the female individual under-30.
Young jins Julianna Martha Uy and Acey Kiana Oglayon also went home with bronze medals in the female individual cadet category.
