MANILA – The Iloilo City-based A. Diasnes Taekwondo Gym delivered nine medals, including eight golds, during the 2021 Online West Coast International Taekwondo Championships on May 22 to 23, 2021.
Elaine Margaret Borres of Ateneo de Iloilo bannered the squad’s medal haul with gold medals in the Senior Female Blackbelt Traditional Team Poomsae and Traditional Pair Poomsae events.
Elizabeth Marie Borres, also from Ateneo de Iloilo, captured two gold medals following her dazzling performance in the Cadet Female Blackbelt Traditional Team Poomsae and Traditional Pair Poomsae.
Another Atenean taekwondo jin in Elisha Venice Aguilar seized a gold medal for the squad of head coach Flora Navales as she ruled the Junior Female Blackbelt Traditional Team Poomsae category.
Janus Miguel Tacsagon of Colegio de San Jose had a golden finish in the Blackbelt category of the Cadet Male Speed Kicking Event.
Other gold medalists are Seth Ryan Templanza of Central Philippine University in Junior Male Blackbelt Traditional Individual Poomsae; and Ateneo de Iloilo’s Kian Ezekiel Castigador in Tiger (8-9) Colored Belt Traditional Poomsae.
Ateneo’s Antonio Miguel Nafarrete was the lone silver medalist for the team after settling for a runner-up finish in the Cadet Male Blackbelt Traditional Individual Poomsae.
Navares lauded the efforts of her taekwondo jins for staying in shape despite the absence of face-to-face training due to the current health pandemic.
“Platforms like this (online taekwondo competitions) are helpful to the (taekwondo jins) since they have more reasons to train harder despite the current pandemic,” said Navares.
“They were becoming motivated to continue their taekwondo journey, knowing that, even with the endless COVID-19 situation, their talents and efforts are still recognized,” the mentor added./PN
