Philippine taekwondo team in World Championships

MANILA, Philippines — Kurt Bryan Barbosa and Arven Alcantara will have little time to celebrate their golden triumphs in the recent Cambodia SEA Games as they lead the Smart/MVPSF Philippine team to the World Taekwondo Championships set May 29 to June 4 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Toughened by his Tokyo Olympics stint, Barbosa outclassed Thailand’s Ramnarong Saweekwiharee in the men’s -54kg to win the gold in Cambodia while Alcantara gutted out a 2-1 win over another Thai bet in Chaichon Cho in the men’s -68kg.

They accounted for two of the six gold medals won by the taekwondo team which joined the arnis team with the heaviest haul among the national sports associations (NSAs).

Other members of the team also backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee are Dex Ian Chavez (-58kg), Joseph Chua (-63kg), Dave Cea (-74kg), Veronica Garces (-46kg), Baby Jessica Canabal (-53kg), Nicole Ann Mc Cann (-57kg), and Laila aDelo (-67kg).

The Baku event is part of the team’s massive preparation for the Asian Games, Indoor Martial Arts Games, Asian Taekwondo Championships and Chuncheon  Korea Taekwondo Championships – all happening this year.

Heading the delegation is Raul Samson while the coaches of the team are Carlos Jose Padilla V, and Brix Darmo Ramos.

Also taking part in the event are favorites Korea, China, Spain, Iran, Turkey, Chinese Taipei and the United States.