THE Philippine Taekwondo Association will host the 16th Asean Taekwondo Championships on March 10-12 at the Ayala Malls, Manila Bay in Paranaque City.
Representing the country in the tourney, a pre-Southeast Asian Games showdown, are the country’s best and brightest stars.
“More or less, ‘yung mga SEA Games athletes ang ipadadala rito. This event has been a tradition in our Asean Taekwondo Federation family, that is why it is held on the same calendar year of the SEA Games,” said PTA secretary general Raul Samson.
Nearly four hundred athletes, officials and international referees from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos and the Philippines are competing in the tourney supported by Smart/MVP Sports Foundation, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.
The PTA recently concluded its national selection for members of the team for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia in May.
Among the big names selected for team are Tokyo Olympian Kurt Barbosa and fellow World Championships (Mexico) campaigners and 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Dave Cea (-74kg), Laila Delo (-67kg), Baby Jessica Canabal (-53kg), Joseph Chua (63kg), and Alfritz Arevalo (-68kg).
