5 Smart/MVPSF Philippine jins aim for Paris Olympic, Paralympic slots

MANILA, Philippines – Tokyo Olympian Kurt Bryan Barbosa will banner the Philippine team that will see action in the 2024 Asia Qualification Tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games slated March 15-17 in Tai’an City, China.

The Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) believes the members of the SMART/MVP Sports Foundation Philippine team – three men and two women – have what it takes to go deep owing to a long and rigid training for a change to compete in the global showpiece slated from July 26 to August 11. 

Barbosa is out for redemption after a valiant but failed bid not only in the Tokyo Games but also in last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Apart from Barbosa, who will vie in the -58kg., other members of the Philippine team backed by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission are Asian Games veteran Arven Alcantara (68kg.), Tachiana Keizha Mangin (-49kg) and Baby Jessica Canabal (-57kg). 

Allain Keanu Ganapin is the country’s lone para athlete and will be competing in the K44 (-80kg.)

The Philippine team will be headed by Raul Samson while the coaches are Carlos Jose Padilla V, Christian Al Dela Cruz and Gershon Bautista (para).

Traditional powerhouses like Iran, Japan, Taipei, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Thailand are among the 35 countries taking part in the prestigious event offering slots to the Paris Olympics and Paralymics.