Courtesy: POC Media
NAGOYA, Japan – Two of the Philippines’ up and coming taekwondo athletes impressed in their Asian Games debuts after taking home medals in the poomsae competition on Thursday at the Toyohashi Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Eighteen-year-old Juliana Candelaria scored 9.1300 points in the gold-medal contest to finish second behind South Korea’s Jung Haeun in the women’s individual poomsae.
Candelaria earned a 9.200 score in her recognized poomsae routine before posting 9.060 in the freestyle round.
Thailand’s Thitaree Kaewolanwasu claimed the bronze with 9.0400 points.
“Amazing. I feel great about everything,” Candelaria told One Sports. “It’s such an amazing achievement for me. It’s my first Asian Games.”
“Ang mati-take ko [na lesson] here is live in the moment, kasi what I did in this competition is to enjoy and just be grateful for everything,” she added.
Coach Rani Ortega credited the team’s collective effort for Candelaria’s podium finish, which gave the Philippines its fifth silver medal of the Asian Games.
“Hard work really pays off, with the trust and teamwork of all of us, kaya talaga. Kaya,” Ortega said.
Candelaria joins Jean Claude Saclag (MMA), Marie June Adriano (karate), the Philippine women’s sepak takraw team, and Amaya Amparo Cojuangco (archery) as the country’s other silver medalists.
Meanwhile, Jeus Yape claimed the bronze medal in the men’s individual poomsae with a score of 9.0900 points behind gold medalist Yun Kyusung of South Korea (9.3800 points), and silver medalist Navin Pinthasute of Thailand (9.2800 points).
“I’m happy po with my performance. Ginawa ko po ‘yung best ko, ginawa ko po lahat ng makakaya ko,” Yape said in an interview with One Sports.
“Right now I’m happy sa journey ko po, and I’ll just keep moving forward,” he said.
Coach Jeordan Domingez credited Yape for overcoming the pressure that comes with competing on the Asian stage.
“I’m so happy for him. I know the feeling because we also competed in this competition before, and I’m very happy and proud of Jeus, together with Mika, because they conquered that fear [of pressure],” Domingez said.
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