Filipino jins vow to win Asiad gold

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Taekwondo Association has set lofty goals for the Filipino jins this year, including a gold medal in the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

“Every Asian Games we’re producing four or five medals but only silvers and bronzes. This time we want to change the color; we really want to have a gold this time,” said PTA chief executive officer Sung Chon Hong.

In the last Asiad in Guangzhou, the Pinoy jins accounted for four bronze medals, courtesy of finweight Japoy Lizardo, flyweight Paul Romero, bantamweight Tshomlee Go, and middleweight Kristie Alora.

“Two of them, Japoy and Tshomlee, fought with Koreans. Fight ended in draw and we only lost in sudden death. So this means we’re really close,” Hong said.

The PTA has penciled a long line of training and competitions both locally and overseas for the jins, including the Asian Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and the tough Korean Open.

“Of the mainstays of our 30-man national pool, about 15 are world class, they can win any medal,” he said.

Phl’s junior jins will also be up for a major battle as they seek slots to the Youth Olympic Games via the world junior championships in Taipei in May. 

“We’re now preparing our junior team, they’ve been practicing daily for  the YOG qualifiers. If lucky, I can get at least three qualifiers. Worst-case scenario, we’ll qualify two (jins),” said Hong.

Giving Hong much confidence in Phl’s junior bets was their strong showing in last year’s Asian Youth Games, where Pauline Lopez captured a gold and Aaron Agojo netted a silver.

“We’re number one in taekwondo in the AYG,” said Hong.