Around 1,500 athletes are expected to vie for honors in the 2016 National Age Group Taekwondo Championships on Nov. 12 and 13 at the Makati Coliseum.
The entries, some of them as young as four-years-old, will come from all over the country, according to Organizing Committee chairman Sung Chon Hong, who has envisioned the early introduction of the youth into the martial art sport.
Helping ensure the success of the two-day event are SMART and MVP Sports Foundation for the free sparring competition and PLDT Home Ultera for poomsae.
The age group championships is a part of the Philippine Taekwondo Association’s support for the country’s grassroots sports program.
Free sparring will be participated in by male and female novice and advance players in three divisions, namely, Juniors, Cadet and Grade School. Poomsae will be disputed only by blackbelt students in the individual, pair and team events.
In poomsae or forms, a participant follows a systematic time of movement in consecutive sequences against an imaginary opponent or multiple opponents. The movements use the hands, feet and interconnected techniques like blocking, punching, thrusting and kicking. Constant poomsae training helps improve flexibility and control in breathing, balance, power, eye focus and mental discipline.
The PTA will also mark its 40th anniversary during the 1 p.m. opening rites of the age group tilt sponsored by Meralco, TV5, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and MILO. All PTA members are invited to join the celebration.
