Two world-class Baguio taekwondo athletes powered the Philippine National Poomsae Team in winnin g one gold, three silver, and two bronze medals in the online 2021 World Taekwondo Poomsae Challenge III.
Multi-titled taek-wondo jin Angelica Joyce Gaw emerged as the lone national athlete to win gold medal in the under 30 division of the open individual category of the tournament held from Sept. 27 to Oct. 31.
Gaw, who recently graduated cum laude in Bachelors of Arts in Sports Studies and Arts major in Psychology at the De La Salle University, outclassed world champions from Thailand and South Korea.
Gaw, who was the most valuable player in the women’s poomsae in the 82nd season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, scored 7.650 points in the finals of the tournament with participants coming from different parts of the world.
Baguio boy Justin Kobe Macario clinched one of the three silver medals for the country for his impressive performance in the over 17 division of the freestyle category.
The second silver medal was won by Jun Ninobla, who saw action in the under 60 division of the individual category.
Siblings Vincent Gabriel and Paul Anthony Rodriguez placed second in the sibling’s division of the family pair ca-tegory.
The two bronze medals were courtesy of Janna Oliva in the freestyle over 17 female class and Rodolfo Reyes, Jr. in the individual under 30 class.
Siblings Aesha and Acey Oglayon of Baguio also reached the finals of the tournament but failed to secure a medal.
The World Taek-wondo Poomsae Open Challenge III is a virtual competition where athletes submit online videos of their poomsae performances as entries to the tournament. – Harley F. Palangchao
