The Samahang Taekwondo ng Pilipinas (STP), a Baguio-based taekwondo group, emerged victorious in the 1st Buriram International Taekwondo Championship held in Buriram Province, Thailand on August 27, 2022.
Out of 35 competing countries, STP ranked first in the overall medal ranking for the Poomsae category with 17 gold, 6 silver, and 7 bronze medals. Team Phongpisut Taekwondo of Thailand placed second with 12 gold, 9 silver, and 9 bronze medals while Heroes Taekwondo, also of Thailand, placed third with 6 gold, two silver, and one bronze medals.
Earning gold medals for individual Poomsae were Kody Wanson, Liam David Tacio, Jamie Levi Requillo, Manilyn Mataag, Janine Mae Labao, Rojan Art Dacquil, Precious Ashley Benetiz, Kathleen Bejosano, Jeanine Ummas, Akirah Hannah Kidayan, Jeriza Dawn Ummas, and Jerilorn Jammy Hernandez.
Bagging silver medal were Elcanor Mang-usan Jr., Kristauf Aurelius Bosaing, Viggo Dangiwan, Janice Candido, Sashenka Gem Lubong, and Hexane Rosena while the bronze medalists were Brylle Cafongtan, Jasiel Candido, Josh Daniel Tacio, Josh Karl Bulayo, Jhon Bert Valenzuela, and Reizter John Tutaan.
For the group Poomsae category, the gold medalists were Dacquil and Benetiz; Tutaan and Bejosano; Wanson and Bosaing; Lubong, Benetiz, and Labao; and Valenzuela, Bulayo, and Dacquil.
In the kyorugi category, STP ranked third with 6 gold, 10 silver, and 4 bronze medals. The team trailed and champion Taekwondo Buriram of Thailand, which won 10 gold, 8 silver, and two bronze medals and second-placer FMT Ubon, also of Thailand, which won 14 gold, one silver, and five bronze medals.
The gold medalists for kyorugi were Dangiwan, Josh Tacio, Cafongtan, Bejosano, Benetiz, and Hernandez while silver medallists were Bosaing, Liam Tacio, Jeanine Ummas, Bulayo, Valenzuela, Dacquil, Dawn Ummas, Mang-usan, Requillo, and Candido. Bagging bronze medals were Wanson, Kidayan, Labao, and Lubong.
The STP team was composed of 24 taekwondo players from Bravehearts Martial Arts Institute – Main, Bravehearts Martial Arts Institute – Arcadian Branch, Bravehearts Martial Arts Institute – Buyagan Branch, and Nueva Vizcaya Taekwondo Finals. They were accompanied by the STP president, Danrey C. Velo, and coaches Jeremy K. Fagayan Jr., Jonalyn S. Ladao, and Pedro B. Chulipa Jr.
The international taekwondo championship was organized by the Sports and Tourism Authority of Thailand – Buriram Province in partnership with The Hero Team and GM Group. The event, which is sponsored by the National Sports Development Fund, was participated in by taekwondo enthusiasts from the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Oman, Nepal, Korea, Uzbekistan, Laos, and Bahrain. By Karen L. Bosaing
