Five-year-old Cebuana in makes impression at national taekwondo tilt

CEBU, Philippines — The very young but promising Cebuana jin in Marie Rafaelle Jalad-Armero made an impression during the recently concluded 2024 Smart/MVPSF National Inter-School Taekwondo Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The five-year-old kindergarten student of the University of San Carlos (USC) Montessori Academy is the youngest national taekwondo player who took part in the three-day tilt sanctioned by the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA).

Under the guidance of coach Meliwa Gabutin of Wang Taekwondo Club based in Cebu City, Armero bagged a bronze medal after securing third place in Red belt, Advance category (Under 120cm) of kuryogi (sparring) competition.

It was Armero’s third medal of the year.

Last August, she grabbed an individual bronze in poomsae (forms) and a silver in team event of the 2024 Visayas Age-Group Taekwondo Championships at the Mango Square Mall along General Maxilom Avenue in Cebu City.