14 Philippine jins vie in world jr. championships

Members of the Philippine taekwondo team pose prior to a training session.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Taekwondo Association is convinced the 14-strong Smart/MVPSF national team can pull off a surprise in the 2026 World Taekwondo Junior Championships slated April 9–18 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Two years ago in South Korea, Tachiana Keizha Mangin reigned in the 49kg division to end the country’s 28-year gold medal drought.

Leading the hunt in Tashkent are Chuck Aeron Alariao (-63kg) and Juan Victorio Ongsiako Yamat (-48kg) in the boys’ side and Rhiyanne Agatha Shat Cadilena (-46kg) and Felicity Jana Castel (-44kg) in the girls’ side.

Other members of the Ph team to be headed by former Olympian Stephen Fernandez are boys Von Gabriel Polo Barbosa, Jian Axl Khloe Liyad, Matt Rejhan Lavestre, Louis Andrei Lim and Von Ryan Romantico and girls Ryzza Anne Shyreen Cadilena, Cheska Paula Banawa, Princess Sarah Grace Pascual, EJ Gaa and Mary Heart Capulong.

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