By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Members of the Iloilo MVP Taekwondo Gym took home a total of 24 medals in the 2023 Heroes Taekwondo International Championship held at the Assumption University in Thailand.

The Denmark V. Pinggol-mentored taekwondo squad showcased great athleticism as they captured 12 gold, five silver and seven bronze medals in the two-day tournament held last July 1 and 2.

Lindsy Lorraine Degayo, a standout of STE Dumangas National High School, spearheaded the squad with three gold medals in the individual, pair and team poomsae events.

Fritzjerald Encanto of Guimbal National High School notched two golds in the individual and mixed pair poomsae, while her schoolmate Eujean Ivanka Castete also won a gold each in poomsae and kyorugi.

Hertzela Avry Sinoy of Ateneo de Iloilo won a gold in kyorugi and silver in poomsae, while Kylie Ellise Olivares of Ateneo de Iloilo and Cleo Alexandria Evangelista of Filipino American School Town took a gold each in poomsae and silver each in kyorugi.

Phoebe Margaret Capadosa of Ateneo captured a gold medal in poomsae and bronze in kyorugi, while schoolmate Essence Estelle Sinoy also won a gold in poomsae and bronze in kyorugi.

Sophia Marie Bautista, also of Ateneo, finished with a silver medal in poomsae and a bronze medal in kyorugi, while Alleinna Nestley Gajasan of Peniel Integrated Christian Academy notched a silver in kyorugi and bronze in poomsae.

Adrian Joseph Gajasan lll of Peniel and Gabriel Dominic Capadosa of Ateneo both ended with bronze medals each in kyorugi and poomsae.

For their medal hauls, the Iloilo MVP Taekwondo Gym emerged as the overall champion in the poomsae category of the competition.

“I always tell my players that to accomplish great things, they must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe,” Pinggol said./ASC, WDJ