Four Cordilleran taekwondo athletes powered the Philippine poomsae and kyorugi teams with two gold and two bronze medals in the 2022 Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships recently.
Justin Kobe Macario of Baguio City clinched the gold medal in the men’s free style over 17 years old category while fellow athlete Darius Venerable settled for bronze in the same category.
Baguio’s Angelica Joyce Gaw teamed up with Rodolfo Reyes and Enrico Mella, as the trio bagged a gold medal in the recognized poomsae mixed team category.
The trio of Patrick Perez, Jocel Ninobla, and Nikki Oliva also won a silver medal in the same category. Oliva and Ninobla also won a silver medal apiece in the over 17 women’s freestyle and over 30 women’s recognized poomsae.
Baguio’s Jeordan Dominguez also paired with Juvenile Crisostomo where the duo won a bronze medal in the men’s over 17 freestyle.
Aidane Laxa added a bronze medal in the women’s under 30 recognized poomsae event.
Tokyo Olympian Kurt Barbosa of Bangued, Abra and Laila Delo won a bronze medal apiece in the kyorugi (combat) competition.
Barbosa, who bannered Philippine Taekwondo at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was denied of the gold medal match after losing to Mahdi Hajimousaei of Iran, 2-1, in the semifinal.
Delo was outclassed bay China’s powerhouse fighter Junhong Liu in their semifinal bout, 2-0. – Harley F. Palangchao
