A 26-MEMBER team will depart for Beirut in two batches to participate in the 24th Asian Taekwondo Kyorugi Championships set from June 16 to 18 at the Nouhad Naufal Indoor Stadium.
Welterweight Samuel Thomas Morrison and featherweight Pauline Louise Lopez will lead the campaign with Kurt Bryan Barbosa staying behind to train for the Tokyo Olympics at the Inspire Sports Institute in Calamba.
Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) national team director Dindo Simpao told BusinessMirror that the poomsae (form or demonstration) team will fly to the Lebanese capital on Thursday while the kyorugi (combat) squad will leave on Saturday.
Joining Morrison, who won the men’s -80-kg gold medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, on the kyorugi team are Rommel Pablo Jr. (-54 kgs), Kurt Pajuelas (-58 kgs), Joseph Chua (63 kgs), Arven Alcantara (68 kgs) and Dave Cea (74 kgs).
With Lopez, also 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, in the women’s kyorugi roster are Veronica Garces (-54 kgs), Rheza Aragon (-58 kgs), Baby Jessica Canabal (63 kgs), Laila Delo (80 kgs) and Rio Olympian Kirstie Elaine Alora (+87 kgs).
Carlos Padilla and Christian Al Dela Cruz are coaching the teams.
Darius Venerable, Jeordan Dominguez, Marvin Mori, Joaquin Dominic Tuzon, Jhune Ninobla, Patrick Perez, Rodolfo Reyes Jr. and Kobe Macario, are vying in the Sixth Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships set on June 14.
The women’s poomsae bets include Aidane Laxa, Rinna Babanto, Juvenile Crisostomo, Jocel Lyn Ninobla and Jana Dominique Oliva.
PTA Chairman of Regional Affairs Committee Stephen Fernandez said the competition is part of the buildup to the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi set from November 21 to December 2.
Allain Keanu Ganapin is the country’s lone bet in the Asian Taekwondo Paralympics Championships set on June 15.
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