Iran, Korea and Vietnam Capture Golds on Day 1 of 2016 WTF World Taekwondo Junior Championships

BURNABY, Canada (Nov. 16, 2016) – Gold medals went to Iran and Vietnam in the female categories, while Korea won both golds up for grabs in the male divisions on Day 1 of the 2016 WTF World Taekwondo Junior Championships.

The championships, which WTF President Chungwon Choue called “a road map to Tokyo 2020” features athletes aged 15-17. Burnaby’s Bill Copeland Sports Centre was full to the bursting point, and with many nations fielding vocal, 20-person teams, the event rocked to a noisy aural backdrop.

With 846 competitors and 458 officials registered, representing 102 countries, Burnaby 2016 is the biggest World Juniors ever.

On the first day of the five-day competition, the lightest weight divisions were contested, with medals available in the Female -42kg, Female -44kg, Male -45kg and Male -48kg categories.

Female -44kg

In the Female -44kg category finals, Maria Calderon of Costa Rica took on Thi Kim Ngan Ho of Vietnam. Both fighters started fast and both visited the mats in a clash, but then settled; the round ended 0-0. In the second, the taller Vietnamese girl landed a head kick, going three points up, ending the round 3-0. In the third, Calderon was desperately trying to land, but could just not get past Ho’s long and very versatile front leg, and lost another point on penalties. In the last 12 seconds, things got rough as the frustrated Calderon attacked and Ho went down outside the mats, losing two points for falling twice, and then a third time, but still ending it 5-2, taking gold and leaving Calderon with the silver.

Bronzes were won by Derya Esme of Turkey and Abigail Faye Valdez of the Philippines

Source: WTF

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Filipina jin Kirstie Alora sets sights on 2020 after bowing out of Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO — Kirstie Elaine Alora was left in in tears after she exited the Olympic taekwondo competitions, ending the Philippine campaign in Rio.

But Alora says that the losses will serve as a lesson for her and fuel her to do better as she eyes a return in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Another sad moment na second chance ko na pero still, parang pinagkait sa akin. Siguro kailangan ko pa na ’wag itigil ’yung journey ko sa pagtataekwondo,” said Alora.

Alora lost in her first match against Maria Espinoza of Mexico, but got another shot in a repechage when Espinoza reached the finals of the women’s +67kg division.

She needed two wins to get the bronze medal, but got tripped on the first fight.

Going up against a taller Dislam, Alora gained a 5-4 lead in the final round with 20 seconds to play but the Moroccan landed shots to the body in the final seconds to take command.

In her final attempt to win the bout, Alora attempted a kick to the head that could have given her three points but the strike didn't register on the scoreboard and not even a video review could overturn it.

Alora said she had plans of retiring if she won a medal in Rio, but now she wants another shot.

“Instinct ko kasi is if magkamedal ako, maybe this is the last. I think may gusto pa si God sa akin na have a long journey for my taekwondo career,” said Alora.

“For this journey, maybe it’s God’s will na kung ano ’yung para sa akin, ayaw pa Niya ako huminto. Maybe gusto Niya ako maging Asian champion or world champion before maging Olympic champion,” said Alora.

Alora said she will have to work even harder for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I think kailangan ko pa mag-ensayo to get a good ranking kasi ’yung mga nakakalaban ko have a good standing. ’Yun talaga kailangan ko i-pursue na taasan ’yung ranking ko. I need to have a medal dun sa mga sasalihan ko. ’Yun ang magmomotivate sa akin na pag-igihan pa,” said Alora.

Source: Jerome Ascano of Spin.ph

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PH taekwondo Olympian Kirstie Alora faces 2008 gold medalist in first round

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Kirstie Elaine Alora, the country’s lone taekwondo bet in the Rio Olympics, can’t find a better coach than Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz.

The 26-year-old Alora is hoping to deliver a medal for the Philippines in the women’s +67 kg weight class, which gets going on August 20.

It’s not going to be easy.

Assisting her in this Olympic journey, which begins with an early clash with 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist Maria Espinoza of Mexico, is Cruz, the finest taekwondo athlete the Philippines has ever produced.

Cruz, now 43, represented the Philippines in various international competitions in the ‘90s, and delivered the medals no one else could.

As a finweight, Cruz won the gold in the SEA Games 6 straight times from 1991 to 2001, and had 3 silver and two bronze medals in the World Championships.

In the Asian Championships, Cruz won the bronze, silver and gold during a 5-year stretch starting in 1994. He also has two bronze medals from the World Cup.

Cruz said Alora has what it takes to win a medal at any stage. But again, nothing will come easy when you’re up against the world best.

“The pressure is there,” said Cruz.

“But as long as she gives her best and stays focused, then she has a chance,” the taekwondo guru said of Alora, a two-time bronze medalist it the Asian Games.

Cruz said Alora, who normally gives away an inch or two in height against her rivals, makes it up with a big heart.

“Likas na matapang (She’s pure heart),” said the coach.

The early clash with Espinoza, who also won the bronze in the 2012 London Olympics, should give Alora the early chance to prove her worth in the Olympic level.

“Basta laban lang (As long as we fight). Get through her (Espinoza) early on. That’s the mission anyway,” said Cruz.

Alora was back in the swing of things Monday after taking a needed restSunday when she ran a slight fever.

“I’m okay now. I just have to train today,” she said.

"She's fine," said Cruz. – Rappler.com

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Pauline Lopez wins Philippines' lone gold in Asian Taekwondo Championships

PAULINE Lopez claimed the country’s first and only gold medal in the 22nd Asian Taekwondo Championship after beating South Korea’s Lee Ah-Reum, 8-6, on Wednesday at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Pasay City.

Left in tears after coming one win short of a berth in the Rio De Janeiro Olympics days earlier, Lopez was on the winning end this time around as she beat the defending champion of the women’s -57kg division at the close of the Asian championship.

“This is surreal,” said Lopez, who was cheered on by her relatives led by grandfather Adriano Dela Cruz. “I always trusted in God’s plan for me. This victory is sweet.”

The 19-year-old Los Angeles-based jin said she got a lot of encouragement from his father Efren, a former national athlete, following the defeat in the Olympic qualifiers.

“He called me to encourage me and said forget about what happened,” said Lopez who beat Jeddi Mahsla of Iran, 7-5, in the semifinals, and downed Sae-Lao Thanapa of Thailand, 6-3, in the quarterfinal round.

Aside from Lopez’s gold, the Philippines also got a silver from Kristopher Uy, and a bronze from Olympic-bound Kirstie Elaine Alora.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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Kirstie Alora qualifies for Rio 2016 after advancing to finals of Asia Olympic taekwondo qualifying tilt

KIRSTIE Elaine Alora claimed a berth in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics with a semifinal victory over top-seed Akram Khodabandeh of Iran on Saturday in the Asia Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

Alora trounced a much-taller Khodabandeh, 10-3, in the women’s +67kg division bout to reach the finals, securing a spot in the Olympics this year with the top two finishers in each weight category earning a seat in Rio.

Alora becomes the fourth Filipino to officially qualify for Rio along with Eric Cray of athletics, and Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez of boxing.

Alora is the first Filipino jin to make it to the Olympics since Tshomlee Go and Marie Antoniette Rivero did it in Beijing in 2008.

The Filipina jin came through in the second round, taking a commanding 6-1 lead.

Alora beat Nepal’s Nisha Rawal, 9-0, earlier in the day to earn a semifinal match with Khodabandeh in the weight division that only drew five competitors.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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4 Rio Olympic hopefuls picked

TWO Southeast Asian Games gold winners and two other international medalists have been named by the Philippine Taekwondo Association to compete in the Asian qualifying event for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games scheduled on April 16-17 at the Marriott Convention Center Grand Ballroom, New Port Complex in Pasay City.

These are Samuel Thomas Morrison and Pauline Louise Lopez, both 2015 SEAG champions, Francis Aaron Agojo, 2015 SEAG silver winner and Levita Ronna Ilao, bronze medalist in the 2015 SEAG and the Asian Games.

Kyorugi (free sparring) fighters from 40 other countries eye Olympic participation thru the Asian qualifying event hosted by the Philippines and sanctioned by the World Taekwondo Federation.

“It is an honor for our country to stage this important qualifying competition,” says Sung Chon Hong, PTA chief executive officer.  “It will also boost the spirit of our jins, since they will be performing before their countrymen.”

The PTA has also been chosen to stage the 2016 Asian Taekwondo Championships (senior kyorugi) and the 4th Asian Poomsae championships right after the qualifying competition.

Members of the Philippine teams in the Asian qualifying, Asian championships and Asian Poomsae are expected to do well in the coming events because of their long training and preparation.

Among the Filipino poomsae participants are 2015 SEAG gold medalists Dustin Mella, Raphael Enrico Mella and Rodolfo Reyes Jr.

Source: Manila Standard Today

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Filipino jin cops bronze in WTF world cadet taekwondo championships

Taekwondon, Muju, Korea -Wendil Jay Rama bagged the lone medal for the Philippines in the 2nd WTF World Taekwondo Championships in Korea. Rama won the bronze medal in the male 33kg event. The event was won by home talent Kang-min Kim. The silver medal went to Amir Valipour of Iran, while the other bronze medal went to Jasurbek Zokirov of Uzbekistan.

Other 6 male and 8 female jins unfortunately won't bring any medal back home. The Philippine delegation is headed by Tem Igor Mella and was coached by Japoy Lizardo and Alvin Taraya.

Iran won the most number of events, winning 5 out of the 10 events including 2 runner-up finishes.

Meanwhile, our Southeast Asian counterpart Thailand, won the 2nd most number of golds with three.

European countries Germany and France each had a gold medal.

Day 1- August 23

Female-29kg
Gold - Fatemeh Ebrahimizadeh (Iran)
Silver - Anima Cherchesova (Russia)
Bronze - Mallorie Dellenbach (France)
Bronze - Alima Kaidarova (Kazakhstan)

Female-33kg 
Gold - Mahla Momenzadeh (Iran)
Silver - Chutikan Jongkolrattanawattana (Thailand)
Bronze - Jordyn Smith (Great Britain)
Bronze - Ash Ogan (United States of America)

Female-51kg
Gold - Mobina Shakeri (Iran)
Silver - Polina Arzhevitina (Russia)
Bronze - Ji-yeong Seo (South Korea)
Bronze - Stefanie Grunauer (Germany)

Male-65kg
Gold - Mohammad Khani (Iran)
Silver - Stanislav Melnik (Russia)
Bronze - Dulat Sikhymov (Kazakhstan)
Bronze - Luis Manuel Flores Avendano (Mexico)

Male over 65kg
Gold - Nima Mehrali (Iran)
Silver - Min-hyeok Kim (South Korea)
Bronze - Dzmitry Malinouski (Belarus)
Bronze - Islomjon Adkhamov (Uzbekistan)

Day 2- August 24

Female-41kg
Gold - Ploylapus Chaiprasit (Thailand)
Silver - Setareh Chaboki (Iran)
Bronze - Viktoriya Sobko (Ukraine)
Bronze - Derya Esme (Turkey)

Female-47kg
Gold - Ines Mehnana (France)
Silver - Elizaveta Andriianenko (Russia)
Bronze - Ahsen Sengun (Turkey)
Bronze - Namuun Boldbaatar (Mongolia)

Male-33kg
Gold - Kang-min Kim (South Korea)
Silver - Amir Valipour (Iran)
Bronze - Jasurbek Zokirov (Uzbekistan)
Bronze - Wendil Jay Rama (Philippines)

Male-37kg
Gold - Ratchapon Senghapha (Thailand)
Silver - Jorge Fonseca (Mexico)
Bronze - Mason Yarrow (Great Britain)
Bronze - Chan-yeong Lee (South Korea)

Male-53kg
Gold - Muhammedcan Goekce (Germany)
Silver - Oleksandr Dziuba (Ukraine)
Bronze - Anil Erkin Zeray (Turkey)
Bronze - Baldomero Gutierrez Pena (Mexico)

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After bronze in 2013, Babanto shoots for gold

IN HER first assignment at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games two years ago, then 16-year-old Rinna Babanto brought home a bronze for the country.

photo (c) Matt Wong

Now, with more experience, Babanto has only one thing on her mind going into her second stint at the SEA Games on June 12 to 14 in Singapore and that is to give the country a gold medal.

“I learned the importance of the team because my event (in 2013) was a team event. You also need to sacrifice and have patience with the team. This time I’m more determined because I’m competing in a double event and I want to improve more and win gold medals this time around,” Babanto told Sun.Star Cebu.

Babanto is the only jin from the talent-rich Cebu City taekwondo scene chosen to represent flag and country in the biennial sports meet of Southeast Asian countries.

“I’m so grateful that they have chosen me again to represent the country in another big tournament like the SEA Games. I’ll do my very best to win the gold this time,” she said.

Babanto is joined by Irene Bermejo, Juvenile Crisostomo, Pauline Lopez, Jocel Ninobla and Jade Zafra. She will be competing in individual and team events of poomsae.

Babanto, along with Rani Ortega and Janice Lagman, finished third and brought home a bronze medal in the Women’s Poomsae Team event of the SEA Games in 2013.

Source: Edri Aznar of Sun.Star Cebu

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Taekwondo at the 2015 SEA Games

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art which combines combat and self-defense techniques with sport and exercise.

There are two taekwondo categories in the 28th SEA Games – Poomsae and Kyorugi. Poomsae is a non-combative, demonstration event while Kyorugi involves sparring between two athletes.

In Poomsae events, each contest lasts from 30 to 90 seconds. Contestants are given scores in 2 components: accuracy and presentation. In Kyorugi events, each contest consists of three rounds of two minutes each for both men and women.

Contestants score points via valid attacks to allowed body parts and points are recorded via the Protector Scoring System (PSS).

15 taekwondo events shall be contested at the 28th SEA Games:

•    Poomsae Individual (Men’s and Women’s)
•    Poomsae Team (Men’s and Women’s)
•    Poomsae Pair (Mixed)
•    Kyorugi: Under 54kg (Men’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 58kg (Men’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 63kg (Men’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 68kg (Men’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 74kg (Men’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 46kg (Women’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 49kg (Women’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 53kg (Women’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 57kg (Women’s)
•    Kyorugi: Under 62kg (Women’s)

Source: https://www.seagames2015.com/the-games/sports/taekwondo

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