Smart taekwondo Olympic team trains in Korea

MANILA, Philippines -  Looking ahead to next year’s London Olympic Games, members of the SMART Olympic Taekwondo Team will undergo an exclusive training in Korea from June 6-18 in preparation for the world qualification tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 25 to July 4.

The SMART team will be composed of John Paul Lizardo, Marlon Avenido, Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison, Jose Anthony Soriano, Jyra Marie Lizardo, Pauline Louise Lopez, Jade Zafra and Maria Camille Manalo.

“They’re the best among the current crop of Filipino fighters,” said Philippine Taekwondo Association vice president Sung Chon Hong. “They have been tested in various local and international competitions.”

The team will be accompanied by Korean coach Kim Hong Sik.

The training gives the Filipinos the opportunity to strengthen their fighting spirit and sharpen their skills as they go up against crack Koreans in the best Korean taekwondo schools and gymnasiums such as Pung Seng School and Dong-A University, Yong In University. They will also test their skills against Samsung’s professional players.

Four London Olympic berths – two male and two female – will be up for grabs in the world qualifying event.

Four more male and female slots will be disputed in the Asian qualification tournament scheduled on Nov. 2-4 in Bangkok.

The Filipinos’ training is supported by SMART Communications, PLDT and the Philippine Sports Commission.