The Philippine Taekwondo Association is proud to announce the country’s hosting of the 2023 16th ASEAN Taekwondo Championships slated March 10 to 12 at the Ayala Malls, Manila Bay in Paranaque City.
The country’s best and brightest stars are expected to don the national colors in the tournament serving as a pre-Southeast Asian Games showdown.
“More or less, ‘yung mga SEAG athletes ang ipadadala rito. This event has been a tradition in our Asean Taekwondo Federation, family that is why it is held on the same calendar year of the SEA Games,” said PTA Secretary General Raul Samson.
Around 383 athletes, officials and international referees from the eight member countries have confirmed their participation, such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Laos.
The biennial event is supported by SMART/MVP Sports Foundation, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.
The PTA just recently concluded its national selection for members of the team for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on May 6 to 17. Among big names selected are Tokyo Olympian Kurt Barbosa and fellow World Championships (Mexico) campaigners and 2019 Manila Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Dave Cea (-74kg), Laila Delo (-67kg), Baby Jessica Canabal (-53kg), Joseph Chua (63kg), and Alfritz Arevalo (-68kg).