Published:
TAGUM CITY, Davao Del Norte – The Cordillera taekwondo jins secured six gold medals for region CAR in the ongoing Palarong Pambansa here in the Palm Capital of the country.
Despite strong showings from rival regions, the team from both elementary and secondary outclassed the others with their power and grace in the Poomsae or forms event yesterday.
They also bagged four silver medals and two bronze medals in the same event.
The team hopes to triple its win in the Kyorugi or sparring event which is currently played as of press time at the Gaisano Mall of Tagum according to their coach Arnold Oglayon.
“We had strong competitors from regions 12 and ARMM this year. They have prepared well, too,” said Oglayon.
The coach expressed his confidence that they can add more medals for the region especially that there are additional weight categories introduced in this year’s Palaro.
Gold medalists were Jessa Tumlayen and Xaphrine Paijhe Rivera in the elementary level and Angelica Joyce Gaw and Angel Louise Dy in the secondary.
In the Poomsae group category, the formidable trio of Richard John Ulat, Alexander Gabriel Ogoy, and Rama Chandra Liporada garnered gold.
Ogoy together with Rivera wowed the crowd with their synchronized kicks and punches in the mixed pair poomsae event.
Contributing silver medals for CAR were Christian Mark Duntugan in the individual event, Mariah Trenyce Co together with Tumlayen and Rivera in the elementary girls’ group, Josea Dizon with Gaw and Dy in the secondary girls’ group, and another silver for Gaw and Duntugan in the mixed pair poomsae.
Settling for bronze were Rama Chandra Liporada for the elementary individual event and in the secondary boys’ group were Duntugan together with Troy Nathaniel Cayago and Ivan Murray Soliman.
With the medals amassed by the taekwondo team, CAR is overall fourth place in the official medal standing with 14-15-8 as of Thursday. – Georaloy I. Palao-ay