By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Tachiana Mangin made a name for herself after capturing the gold medal in her weight class in the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea on Friday, Oct. 4.
The Valenzuela City native overcame local bet Kim Hyang-gi, 2-1, to reign supreme in the 47-player field of the women’s -49kg division.
Mangin set the tone early by taking the opening round before slowing down in the second. She picked herself up in the third to beat her more experienced rival.
Prior to her victory, Mangin edged eventual bronze medalist Lamprini Anna Asimaki of Greece in the semifinals, Habiba Wael Emerah of Egypt in the quarters, Natkamon Wassana of Thailand in the Round of 16, and Judith Cordoba of Spain in the first round.
Meanwhile, Rhiyanne Cadilena bowed in her Round of 16 match against Violeta Diaz of Spain, 2-0, in the women’s 46kg.
Felix Ace Perez fell short in the first round of the men’s -48kg after yielding to Mikhail Korostelev, 2-0, while Felicity Jana Castel also lost her first bout to Deya Peeva of Bulgaria, 2-0, in the women’s -44kg.
Also making an early exit was Ethan Chavez, who bowed to France’s Noah Garcia, 2-0, in his first match in the men’s 51kg, as well as Michael Cabaluna Jr, who lost to Konstantinos Tsagkournos of Greece, 2-0, in the men’s -45kg.
