RP jins wary of Taiwan, Iran rivals

DOHA — For a change, the Filipino jins won’t be intimidated by the Koreans when they step into the mat at the start of the taekwondo competitions in the 15th Asian Games at the Qatar Sports Club indoor hall here Thursday.

What worries them is the presence of the Taiwanese and the Iranians, whose aggressive fighting style and determination could spell the difference between victory and defeat.

"I think by this time, we should not be afraid and get beaten by the Koreans, simply because they trained in Korea for some time," said Robert Aventajado, chief of the Philippine Taekwondo Association, pointing to some six weeks of training by the Asian Games squad with stint in the recent Korean Open.

"We didn’t win in the Open but we won some medals," said Aventajado, also the chairman of the Philippine Olympic Commtittee. "But in the Asiad, all 12 of them are capable of winning (the gold)."

Olympians Donald Geisler and Marie Antoinette Rivero head the crack full-roster of RP contingent in the Korean martial arts event unfolding on Dec. 7, ready to do battle against the very best and toughest jins in the continent.

The 12-man squad, which arrived Sunday night, includes Ernesto Mendoza, Alexander Briones, Manuel Rivero Jr., Tshomlee Go, John Paul Lizardo, Ma. Criselda Roxas, Elaine Alora, Lorelie Catalan, Eunice Alora and Veronica Domingo.

Without undermining the Koreans’ talents, Aventajado picked Taiwan and Iran as the teams to beat, owing to their form and style which he wanted to instill on the Filipino fighters’ minds.

"They fight all out every match. Like Manny Pacquiao, they are very aggressive," said Aventajado, adding that timing and the desire to win are the other key factors in winning title matches in a tournament of this magnitude. — Dante Navarro