TACHIANA Mangin is preparing for bigger challenges this year.
After winning a gold medal in the World Taekwondo Junior Championships last October, Mangin is setting her sights on tougher battled ahead.
The 17-year-old Mangin looks forward at joining the national team in the senior level category of the World Taekwondo Championships and the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Mangin said the experience she gained at the World Juniors gave her the confidence to join higher-level events.
“Marami po akong sasalihan na international competitions this year. So dadami ang aking experience,” said Mangin.
She earned the gold medal in the female 49-kg division against Hyang-gi Kim of South Korea when she saw action in the World Juniors.
A 12th grade student athlete from the University of Santo Tomas, Mangin prevailed over Kim, 2-1, in the final bout, ending the 28-year drought of the Philippines in the tournament.
Finishing behind her were Aiuna Menkenova, Authorized Neutral Athlete, and Lamprini Asimaki of Greece, who were in the third and fourth places, respectively.
With her feat in the worlds, Mangin became the first Filipina to have ever won the competition.
It was also the first podium finish of a Filipino jin in the last 28 years.
The last time it happened was when Alex Borromeo won in 1996 at a competition held in Barcelona, Spain.
