TACHIANA MANGIN WINS PH’S FIRST GOLD IN WORLD TAEKWONDO JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tachiana Mangin won the country's first gold in the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships (Photo courtesy of Philippine Sports Commission)

The Philippines clinch its first gold medal at the World Taekwondo Junior Championships after a 16-year-old Filipina 10th grader Tachiana Keizha Mangin made history in the world stage after a victorious campaign in Female -49kg at the Chuncheon 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea.

In the finals against hometown bet Kim Hyang-gi, Mangin secured the win after three rounds of sparring via a 14-8, 3-4, 7-6 decision. Mangin broke down in tears after clinching the third and deciding round.

Mangin also beat Egypt’s Habiba Wael Emerah in the quarterfinals, Thailand’s Natkamon Wassana in the round of 16, and Spain’s Judith Cordoba in the round of 32.

The Philippine Taekwondo Association and Philippine Sports Commission  in a series of posts on their Facebook page congratulated Mangin on her gold medal win.

“Pagpupugay sa kahusayang ipinakita ng ating #BidangBayaningManlalaro!”

Taekwondo varsity coach Elmer Rafael wrote: "It truly feels special for us Filipinos to hear the national anthem of the Philippines played during the awarding ceremony in honor of our new World Junior Champion, Tachiana Mangin. Congratulations!"

Mangin nearly qualified for the Paris Games but fell short following a narrow defeat to Asian champion Dunya Abutaleb of Saudi Arabia in their semifinal bout in the World Taekwondo Asian Qualification Tournament in Tai’an, China last March.

Before Mangin’s victory, no athlete from the Philippines had stood on top of the podium at this event since Alex Borromeo at the inaugural edition in Barcelona in 1996. The Filipino martial artist ended the Philippines' 28-year wait for a gold medal.

Source: The Manila Times 

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