Hanah Taekwondo takes home 16 gold medals

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Negros Occidental-based Hanah Taekwondo dominated the Visayas Taekwondo Championships 2018, which recently took place at SM City Bacolod, taking home 16 gold, eight silver, and five bronze medals, earning them the overall title.

Among the gold medal winners in the kyorugi event, a demonstration of sparring, include Ashley and Ethan Chavez, alongside Zane and Zach Olivo, both of St. Scholastica’s Academy (SSA); Adrian Galinea Zyx Geocadin of University of St. La Salle-Integrated School (USLS-IS); Tyrone Yao and Hugo Dagnot of Bacolod Tay Tung High School; Joshua Dieta of Colegio de San Agustin-Bacolod; Jan Mickael Casana and Alyan Rodrigaso of Riverside College Inc. (RCI); Denmark Gabayeron of Emiliano Lizares National High School; Christian and Arthur Monasque of Christian Venture Academy; Luigi Escasinas of Murcia National High School; and Jeazel Talaver of Handumanan National High School. Silver medalists include Jonathan Seguera of Murcia National High School, Dondy Santillan Eevo Geocadin of USLS-IS, Erika Galang and Josh Italia of RCI, and Al Frances Reyes of La Consolacion College-Bacolod. Meanwhile, the bronze medalists include Thea Galila of St. Benilde School Inc., Bianca Elbanbuena of La Castellana National High School, and Elynne Vic Pano of Negros Occidental High School.

In the poomsae event, which is comprised of basic attack and defense motions associated with the martial art, Adrian Galinea of USLS-IS won silver; while Shanen Matti of SSA, Eirah Sumaria of Saint Joseph School-La Salle, and Seguera took bronze.

“The combat sport has grown exponentially in the Visayas,” said Philippine Taekwondo Association secretary-general, Makati City first district Rep. Monsour del Rosario.

Around 400 athletes from Panay, Cebu, and Negros took part in the competition./JSG, WDJ