Will a Cebuano taekwondo jin get the chance to flaunt his powerful kicks and punches in next year’s Rio Olympics?
This possibility loomed larger after the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) shortlisted 20 Cebuanos to the National Pool where the four-man Philippine National Team for the Rio Qualifiers will be selected.
The Rio 2016 Asian Qualifying Tournament will be held in Manila on April next year.
Following an intensive tryout last Nov. 21 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, the PTA has chosen eight Cebuanos for sparring and 12 for Poomsae out of the 26 who tried their luck.
PTA Region 7 Regional Director Tony del Prado said that the Association will have a final evaluation this January of who among the qualified jins will compose the four-man team to play in the Rio 2016 Qualifiers.
The qualifying event will be participated by top Asian teams like China, Taiwan, Thailand, and powerhouse Iran.
According to wikipedia, taekwondo is a Korean martial art with a heavy emphasis on kicks. It was developed during the 1940s and 1950s by various Korean martial artists as a blend of the indigenous Korean fighting styles of taekkyeon, gwonbeop, and subak, with influence from foreign martial arts, such as karate and Chinese martial arts.
Among the Cebuanos who made it to the National Pool are Mat Coran, Nica Garces, Natasha Elpa, Ellen Joy Villacarlos, and Melody Jane Infante in the Junior Women’s sparring.
Luigi Estrada reserved a slot in the Junior Men’s Sparring while Sharmaine Albarracin and Royda Ranile qualified into the Cadet Girl’s sparring roster.
In the Seniors Poomsae, World Champions Glenn Lava and Rinna Babanto also made it back to the PHL pool with De La Salle University’s UAAP bronze medalist McAvynger Alob and Maegan Bugarin joining them.
Lee Navales, Aidaine Laxa, Cheyena dela Fuente, Crystal dela Torre, Nichole Maurin and Clement Tan were also chosen into the Juniors Poomsae team while Alyssa and Alexander Llenes made it into the Cadet poomsae.
These players, Del Prado said, will compete in the World Championships, Asian Championships, and Korea Open.
HOPEFUL
Del Prado also said that he is hoping that the PHL jins will win a gold medal in Rio if they will just train hard.
“Talent is not enough,” Del Prado told Cebu Daily News. “Our players must always train and improve.”