Far Eastern University (FEU) Jins and Lady Jins took home a total of 22 medals in the 2021 Smart/Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF) Asian Online Open Taekwondo last July 10-12. 

The competition was aired through the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) Stream Taekwondo site, which also provided the links for all of the courts. The participants recorded their performance and uploaded it on YouTube, then it was sent to the organizers.

The Speed Kicking event was judged based on the participant’s total kicks, head kicks, turning kicks and punches. Seven Junior FEU Jins brought pride to the school with four gold medals from Reniel Joseph Badiola, James Camillo, Jusztene Buan, and Nick Pascua. 

Miguel Limjap bagged a silver medal, while John Joseph Timothy Melicado and Romar Javier got a bronze finish for the Junior Jins.

On the other hand, the FEU Lady Jins won three gold medals through the performance of Claire Kanakan, Regina Abello and Angelika Abairo. The Lady Jins also clinched two silver medals from Danica Sacbibit and Janine Arrogancia, and two bronze medals from Chanel Sauler and Brianne Ducay.

“We train every morning kahit online, nagtiyaga kami, nag-focus kami sa need namin ma-improve para rin gumanda performance namin (We train every morning even online, we worked hard, we focused on what we should improve to make our performance better),” Senior Women's Welterweight Division gold medalist Abella said.

For the Senior Men's Division, the Tamaraw Speed Kicking prides brought home two gold medals from Rhayvon Catris and Winson Balibalita. Meanwhile, Hedweg Joezer Yap and Heinrich Roberts both finished with a silver medal, and Jamil Allen Bayna won a bronze medal for the team.

"Syempre masaya kasi nanalo na rin at hindi lang ako, halos lahat kami nanalo (Of course, I am happy because we won finally and it's not only me, almost all of us won [at the tournament])," FEU Jins senior Yap said.

The FEU Jins superstar Jusztene Buan also shared with FEU Advocate that the edge was to execute a consistent performance to secure the title in the competition. 

In the Poomsae event, it was Christine Joyce Nudo who clinched the bronze medal for the Senior Women's Division, and Mark Balcita claimed a silver medal for the Senior Men's Division. 

The FEU Taekwondo team conquered more than 2,500 participants from 18 Asian countries who joined the MVPSF Asian Online Open Taekwondo.

- Aimerose C. Atienza

(File photo by Andrea Joy C. Gonzales/FEU Advocate)