The country’s top taekwondo jins in the country test their skills and creativity as they slug it out in the SMART/MVP Sports Foundation-National CPJ (Carlos Palanca, Jr.) Taekwondo Championships slated Feb. 18 and 19 at the Ayala Malls-Manila Bay in Paranaque.
Tokyo Olympics veteran Kurt Bryan Barbosa heads the list of grizzled veterans in the best-of-the best tournament organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and MILO.
Among the fighters to watch are Mexico World Championships quarterfinalists Dave Cea and Joseph Chua, Laila Delo, Baby Jessica Canabal and multi-titled Elaine Alora.
Over 1,000 participants will vie in two events – Kyorugi (free sparring) and Ponsae (forms).
Categories in kyorugi are Senior, Junior, Cadet and Grade School –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 served as tune-up to members of the Philippine Team who will compete in the ATF Taekwondo Championships scheduled on March 11-12 also at the Ayala Malls, Manila Bay.
It also part of series of qualifying meets for fighters vying slots in the PH team that will see action in different international events this year such as World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games (AIMAG), World Cadet Championships, and the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia slated May 6-17.
Competition will start at 9 a.m.
