Ilalatag ng Philippine Taekwondo team ang mayoryang ratsada kung saan punong abala ang bansa sa 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Ibinunyag ni Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) Executive officer Sung-Chon Hong na ang kanyang mga alipores ay pursigidong makasipa ng di kukulangin sa limang gold sa prestihiyosong biennial meet umpisa November 30 -December 11 sa bagong New Clark City sa Capas, Tarlac.
Ani Hong ang kanyang mga atleta ay naghahanda at mataas ang morale kasunod ng buong suporta ng federation at Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Kaugnay nito, nakatakda silang sumalang sa 10-day training sa South Korea sa katapusan ng October.
“This training by the taekwondo jins, supported by the PSC, is our push towards our aim to winning the medals in the SEA Games,” ani PSC Chairman William Ramirez.
“Although the SEA Games are not about edging out our friend countries, the nation is also looking at how and on how competitive our athletes have become. It is imperative for the PSC to support our athletes as much as it can,” aniya pa.
Si Hong, na ang kanyang mga atleta ay nagkasya lang sa dalawang gold, tatlong silver at four bronze medals sa nakaraang SEA Games ay sinisiguro ang magandang performance para sa nalalapit na biennial meet.
“I think we can win around five gold medals,” ani Hong.
Hindi naman tinukoy ng PTA executive kung sino ang pihadong gold-medal winners, pero nabanggit ang mga pangalan nina Pauline Lopez, Elaine Alora at Butch Morrison, gayundin ang decorated men’s poomsae squad nina JR Reyes at Dustin at Raphael Mella at women’s team nina Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, Rinna Babanto at Janna Oliva.
Isang perennial SEA Games medalist, si Lopez ay nahablot ang bronze medal sa 18th Asian Games nung nakaraang taon habang si Alora ay silver medalist sa Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament na nagsilbi niyang golden ticket sa Summer Games sa Rio de Janeiro nung 2016.
Dominado ni Morrison men’s -74kg division ang SEA Games sa apat na taon habang ang poomsae squads ay kredito ng pares ng bronze medals sa nakalipas na Asian Games.
“Of course, in taekwondo, nothing is definite as a lot of factors are in play. But if you ask me if I’m confident, I can say that yes, I’m really, really confident. We are ready to compete even if the SEA Games will be held next week,” ani Hong. (Louis Pangilinan)