THE best and toughest taekwondo jins in the country test their skills and creativity when they battle it out in the Smart/MVP Sports Foundation-National Carlos Palanca Jr.
Taekwondo Championships on Feb. 18-19 at the Ayala Malls-Manila Bay in Paranaque.
Tokyo Olympics campaigner Kurt Bryan Barbosa heads the list of veterans in the best-of-the best tournament organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Association and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and Milo.
Among the other fighters to watch are Mexico World Championships quarterfinalist Dave Cea and Joseph Chua, along with Laila Delo and Baby Jessica Canabal and SEA Games champion Elaine Alora.
Over 1,000 participants will showcase their wares in two events — kyorugi (free sparring) and poomsae (forms). Kyorugi action will feature senior, junior, cadet and grade school fighters for both male and female, while poomsae will be divided into three divisions — recognized poomsae (individual), recognized poomsae (team and mixed pair) and freestyle poomsae (individual and mixed).
The competition also serves as a tune-up for members of the Philippine Team who will compete in the ATF Taekwondo Championships on March 11-12 also at the Ayala Malls, Manila Bay.
It is also part of a series of qualifying meets for fighters vying for slots for the national team that will be sent in different international events this year such as the World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games, World Cadet Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
