A SIX-MAN Philippine team carrying the colors of SMART/MVP Sports Foundation will participate in the open qualification tournament for the 2018 World Taekwondo Grand Slam Championships on April 20-22 in Wuxi, China.
The well-trained Filipino jins who will compete against entries from 59 other countries are Francis Aaron Agojo (-58kg), Arven Alcantara (-68kg), Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison (-80kg), Baby Jessica Canabal (-49kg), Pauline Louise Lopez (-57kg) and Darlene Mae Arpon (-67kg).
The team officials are Dindo Simpao, head and coach and Carlos Jose Padilla V, coach.
Philippine Taekwondo Association Secretary General and incumbent Makati Congressman Monsour Del Rosario says the prestigious competition will serve as the national team’s preparation for two other important events—the Asian Taekwondo Championships in Ho Chih Minh, Vietnam in May and the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta in August.
Del Rosario says Filipino fighters have always been ranked among the top contenders in past international events. “Our entries vow to do their best against fighters from the other participating countries like Korea, France, Spain, Iran, Turkey, Chinese Taipei and the United States,” stresses Del Rosario, a former multi-titled international campaigner.
The Wuxi-bound Filipino squad is also supported by PLDT, Meralco, the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.