THE SMART-MVP Sports Foundation national team and Meralco-MVPSF national poomsae squad try to bring honors to the Philippines again when they compete in the Korea Open Taekwondo (Kyorugi) Championships and World Hanmadang Festival on July 22 to Aug. 2 at Chuncheon City, Gangwon-do, South Korea.
Recent Singapore Southeast Asian Games Kyorugi (sparring) gold medalists Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison and Pauline Louise Lopez and poomsae (forms) silver winner Rinna Babanto banner the 52-strong delegation.
Kyorugi silver medalists Francis Aaron Agojo and Irene Therese Bermejo and bronze winners Jenar Torillos and Levita Ronna Ilao are also seeing action in the Korea tournament.
Martial arts combatants from 59 other countries including Vietnam, Chinese Taipei, Iran, China and Japan are also competing.
Thirty-seven jins will carry the national colors in Kyorugi while 10 senior and junior athletes will gun for poomsae medals. Five officials complete the national delegation which is supported by PLDT, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.