Pinoy jins fight back, claim 3 poomsae golds

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines struck thrice yesterday, winning gold medals in men’s 30-above team then in the men’s and women’s individual freestyle of the fourth Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.

Jeordan Dominguez, a 25-year-old taekwondo instructor from Baguio City, was impressive in his 90-second freestyle routine. He flew high and kicked high to beat six other entries for the precious gold.

Dominguez sat on the floor, his fingers crossed, as the judges tabulated the score of the final entry from Singapore. When it was flashed, he knew he was the winner, and then he started to celebrate.

“I gave my best. I’m so happy. This is my first gold medal in the Asian Championships,” said Dominguez, silver medalist in the team event of the 2014 edition in Uzbekistan.

Dominguez, who said he trained eight hours a day the last two months, won a gold and silver in the 2014 World Championships in Mexico in the team and pair events.

“This is my first individual gold so this is something else. It’s so uplifting,” said Dominquez, who highlighted his winning routine with a front flip, cartwheel, hand spring and back flip with a kick.

“I’m so proud,” said Dominguez, who won with a score of 7.72. Thailand’s Sakdinun Konggapun took the silver with 7.50 and Chinese-Taipei’s Tao Hung Hwang the bronze with 7.24.

Juvenile Faye Crisostomo of Far Eastern University then won the freestyle gold in the women’s side, bringing to three the number of gold medals the Philippines pocketed for the day.

Crisostomo also earned the nod of the judges with her well-executed routine, winning the gold with a score of 7.28, beating Thailand’s Pich Chapma Tanakitcharoenpat (7.12) and Vietnam’s Thi Mong Nguyen (6.90).

The fourth-year college student did not speak to reporters after the victory because she had another event for late last night. It’s a team policy for members to refrain from facing the media until the day is done.

Earlier, Jean Pierre Sabido, Eernesto Guzman Jr. and Glenn Lava, all former members of the Philippine taekwondo team, bagged the gold in the male 30-above event with a score of 7.97.

The Iranian team of Ali Salmani, Akbar Forouzan and Mahdi Samadian Tabar came in second with 7.88, followed by Korea’s Ki Sung Song, Jae Jin Kang and Hyung Nam Kwon with their 7.72.

Sabido said it was a sweet victory over the team which they beat in the 2014 World Championships but to whom they bowed to in the last Asian Championships.

The Philippines settled for silver medals in the female 30-under courtesy of Jocel Lyn Ninobla, Clare Therese Gascon and Angelica Joyce Gaw (8.21), and in the male 30-under through Dustin Jacob Mella, Raphael Enrico Mella and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. (8.26).

The lone bronze for the Philippines in this event sponsored by the MVP Group and the Philippine Sports Commission was provided by Rinna Babanto and Mella in the 30-under pair.