National taekwondo tourney kicks off

The drive to develop the next generation of taekwondo champions continues as the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) stages the 2026 MILO National Taekwondo Championships this October.

The two-part national tournament is expected to draw around 3,500 young athletes from all affiliated chapters and branches across the country, including representatives from 20 regions and the National Capital Region.

The kyorugi (free sparring) competition will be held on 3 and 4 October at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, while the poomsae (forms) competition is set for 11 October at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

MILO and the Philippine Taekwondo Association, under the leadership of Grandmaster Hong, have joined forces in supporting the development of Filipino youth.

Through this partnership, the event has provided valuable support to its grassroots program, helping create opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, discipline, and passion for taekwondo.

Grandmaster Hong, who has been at the forefront of PTA’s programs the past five decades, is excited to see taekwondo jins from different parts of the country vie for honors in their respective divisions.

Kyorugi will feature Toddler, Grade School, Cadet and Junior categories for both boys and girls, with each age group divided into Novice and Advanced divisions.