Phl slots staked in Smart taekwondo

MANILA, Philippines - Crack taekwondo jins who are seeking berths on the 2014 national team will see action Sunday in the SMART CPJ (Carlos Palanca Jr.) championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Among the fighters expected to compete in kyorugi (free sparring) are Kirstie Elaine Alora and Kristopher Robert Uy.

International and local medalists will lead participants in the three-division poomsae event of the tourney supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, SMART Communications Inc., MVP Sports Foundation, PLDT, Meralco, TV 5 and Milo.

Organizing committee chairman Sung Chon Hong bares that Philippine team members will see action in the 2014 Asian Taekwondo Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the world junior and world qualifying tournament for the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games in New Taipei City, the world cadet championships in Baku, Azerbaijan and the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

The national poomsae team will vie for honors in the 2014 World Poomsae Championships in Mexico.

Competition in kyorugi will be conducted in three categories – senior (for fighters 18 years old and above), junior (15-17 years old) and cadet (12-14 years old).

In poomsae, individual, team and pair events will be held in 13 categories, namely, cadet (12-14 years old), junior (15-17 years old) first senior A (18-14 years old), first senior B (24-40 years old), 2nd senior (31-39 years old), Master (41 years old and above), cadet pair, junior pair, senior pair, cadet team, junior team, first team and second team.

Poomsae means forms.  It is performed by following a systematic type of movements in consecutive sequence against an imaginary opponent or multiple opponents.  It consists of movements using the hands and feet and interconnected techniques like blocking, punching, striking, thrusting and kicking. 

Constant poomsae training helps improve flexibility and control in breathing, balance, power, eye focus and mental discipline.

Spors enthusiasts and parents interested to enroll their children in taekwondo are invited to watch the event, which starts at 9 a.m.