Teamwork keys jins’ Asian Games success

Teamwork proved to be the key behind the Philippines’ three-medal haul in poomsae at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

National team coach Rani Ortega said the success was the product of a collective effort, with coaches and athletes constantly pushing one another throughout their preparations.

Speaking on “Off the Court,” the weekly online sports show of DAILY TRIBUNE on Thursday, Ortega said the team’s progress went beyond developing technical skills.

“Actually, it’s teamwork. It’s not the responsibility of one coach. We have a lot of helpers,” Ortega said.

“For me, we’ll see the improvement of a person not just with skills, but with how you focus and how you set your mind every day when the training is hard. That hard training will bring you confidence, give you strength and give you trust in yourself that you can do it because you know you’ve prepared hard for it.”

Jeus Yape delivered a gold medal in the mixed virtual taekwondo event and a bronze in men’s individual poomsae, while Juliana Candelaria won silver in women’s individual poomsae.

Ortega, a former national team athlete, said she and fellow coach Jeordan Dominguez had been preparing the athletes since the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.