CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Zamboangueña martial artist Ma. Jezrah Lyana Velo Timpangco led a stellar showing for Philippine martial arts on the global stage, striking gold at the prestigious 7th Kimunyong Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships held July 25 to 28 at the Jangchung Arena in Seoul, South Korea.
Timpangco, a student-athlete from the National Academy of Sports (NAS) and a native of Armor Village in Barangay San Jose Gusu, dominated the Individual Poomsae event to secure the top podium spot for the Philippine delegation. Her victory highlights the deep pool of athletic talent emerging from Western Mindanao.
Adding to the island's strong showing in Seoul, Cagayan de Oro’s very own Samantha Gley Duria captured the gold medal in the Junior Female Under-42 kg division. Duria’s triumph underscores the rapid growth of Northern Mindanao's grassroots taekwondo program, proving that local jins can stand tall against the world's best young combatants.
Her victory adds to Cagayan de Oro's growing reputation as a powerhouse for martial arts talent, coming on the heels of several strong performances by the city's homegrown athletes.
Broad Philippine Campaign
Beyond the gold-medal performances from Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro, other Filipino athletes also delivered strong results at the Seoul tournament:
- Chuck Aeron Alariao of Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, earned a silver medal in the Junior Male Under-68 kg division.
- Laizel Angela Abucay of the Seniors National Team and Hillary Abbot of the National Academy of Sports fought valiantly against international contenders, gaining crucial experience for future national campaigns.
From Zamboanga to Cagayan de Oro, these stellar performances in South Korea showcase the rising standard of grassroots taekwondo development across Mindanao and the rest of the country. (Dave Achondo, Editorial Associate)
