Smart age group lures best jins

MANILA, Philippines - The best and promising young jins take center stage on Nov. 20-21 with the staging of the 2010 Smart National Age-Group Taekwondo Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado expects around 1,200 male and female athletes to see action in the tourney sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Smart Communications Inc., PLDT, Adidas and Milo.

Organizing committee chairman Sung Chon Hong said the two-day event will give young jins the chance to show what they have learned so far in the sport. It also supports PTA’s and the government’s grassroots program.

Competition will be conducted in two divisions – junior men and women and grade school boys and girls. The entries will be categorized into Novice 1, Novice 2 and Advance groups.

Participants aged 14-16 will see action in the junior division while those 13 years old and below will perform in the grade school division.

Parents who are interested in enrolling their children into the sport at a young age are expected to enjoy watching the tourney starting at 9 a.m.

Taekwondo has been a rich source of medals for the Philippines in various international competitions, like the ongoing Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, Asian championships and Southeast Asian Games.