Reigning world junior champion Tachiana Keizha Mangin and Tokyo Olympian Kurt Bryan Barbosa banner a strong SMART/MVPSF Philippine taekwondo team that will compete in South Korea from 9 to 17 July.

The 17-year-old Mangin returns to the city of her biggest triumph so far when she and other battle-tested members of the national team compete in the Chuncheon Korea Open Taekwondo Championships (poomsae and kyorugi) at the Songam Sports Town Air Dome.

Just like in her riveting 2-1 win over Korean Kim Hyang Gi last year, the lanky but speedy Mangin competes in the -49kg class while Barbosa vies in the -54k category.

Before the Filipino jins take part in the Chuncheon Korea Open, the Philippine Taekwondo Association said Paris Paralympian Allain Keanu Ganapin will participate in the Gangwon-Chuncheon World Para Taekwondo Open Challenge starting on 11 July.

Other members of the kyorugi (free sparring) team that is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo are Reymundo CalambaIII (-54kg), AljenAynaga (-58kg), Kurt Mykel Curata, (-58kg), Kenneth RileyBuenavides (-63kg), Sturdy Jay Gilbuena (-63kg), Nusair Lao (-68kg), Dave Cea(-74kg), Carl Justine Williams (-74kg), and Justin Mark Agno (-80 kg).

Aside from Mangin, other members of the women’s team are Clarence Sarza (-46kg), Caitlin Julia Carlos (-46kg), Rizza Rose Collado (-49kg), Baby Jessica Canabal(-53kg), Laizel Angela Abucay (-57kg), Czarina Mae Danganan (-57kg), JubileeBriones (-62kg), Merica Lillyn Chan (-62kg) and Laila Delo (-67kg).

Comprising the poomsae (forms) team are 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist Patrick King Perez, Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Ian Matthew Corton, King Nash Alcairo, Darius Venerable, Justin Kobe Macario, Jeus Gabriel Derick Yape, Joaquin Dominic Tuzon, Jocel Lyn Ninobla, Aidaine Krishia Laxa, Maria Nicole Anne Labayne, Sofia Ysabelle Sarmiento, Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, Janna Dominique Oliva, Zyka Angelica Santiago and Stella Nicole Yape.