51 SMART nat’l team jins to train in Korea

MANILA, Philippines - Fifty-one members of the SMART national taekwondo team will undergo exclusive training in Korea from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9 in preparation for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar this December and other international championships next year.

Fifteen senior male and female jins, led by John Paul Lizardo and Kirstie Elaine Alora, lead the group which also includes four officials, namely, Jun Ho Ko, Roberto Cruz, Dindo Simpao and Dax Alberto Morfe.

The other senior athletes are Kristopher Robert Uy, Christian Al Dela Cruz, Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison, Gershon Bautista, Paul Romero, Francis Aaron Agojo, Keno Anthony Mendoza and Eddtone Bobb Lumasac (male) and Mary Anjelay Pelaez, Jade Zafra, Jane Rafaelle Narra, Nicole Abigail Cham and Ma. Isabella Erika Mora.

There will also be 20 junior athletes (12 male and 8 female) and 16 cadets (8 male and 8 female).

The seniors will have their final tuneup for the 27th Myanmar SEA Games, the juniors will prepare for the 2014 Youth Olympic Games qualification tournament and the cadets will hone up for the 2014 first World Cadet Taekwondo Championsips.

With the Korean training, the Filipino fighters are expected to improve their fighting spirit and sharpen their skills as they meet tough athletes from Korean taekwondo schools and gymnasiums like the Pung Saeng School, Sang Moo Military Varsity team as well as professionals who competed for schools which have produced world champions.

While in Korea, the Filipinos will also compete in the fourth Asian University and first Asian University Open championships in Cheong Yang, Korea from Oct. 30 to Nov. 4.

The training is supported by SMART Communications Inc., MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT, TV5, Meralco and Philippine Sports Commission.