By MARK REY MONTEJO
The SMART/MVPSF Philippine Taekwondo team showcased the depth of its talent and captured 20 medals, including two golds, in the recent 2025 Asian Junior, Cadet Taekwondo Championships in Kuching, Malaysia.
Dondy Santillan Jr. exhibited his brilliance to give the Philippines its first gold after ruling the Cadet Male -37kg category.
The Nationals got their second precious metal from the triumvirate of Clint Magracia, Jaynazh Jamias, and Xian Gamata who reigned supreme in the Cadet Recognized Male Team.
Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and MILO, the PH bets struck heavily in poomsae by accounting for 14 medals in the week-long event.
Delivering the silver medals for the Nationals were Jose Martin Omayan (Cadet Male -61kg), Jian Axl Khloe Liyad (Cadet Male Under 53kg), the duos of Adrian Gajasan and Austine Macaraeg (Cadet Freestyle Mixed Pair), and Juliana Candelaria and Dean Venerable (Junior), and Clarissa Gallego (Cadet Female Recognized Individual).
Meanwhile, the bronze winners were Marcus Maquiraya, Lucas Llarena, and Caleb Calde, Chuck Aeron Alariao, Ryzza Anne Shyreen Cadilena, Rhiyanne Agatha Shay Cadilena, Alfonzo Tormon and Casey De Leon, Dean Venerable, Austine Macaraeg, Yua Obiacoro and Clint Magracia, and Jaynazh Jamias.
Julianna Uy, for her part, bagged two bronzes in the Junior Female Recognized Individual and Junior Female Recognized Team where she teamed up with Acey Oglayon, and Casey De Leon.
Jamias, De Leon, Gallego, Macaraeg, Magracia, Obiacoro, and Venerable were the other
multi-medalists for the Philippine contingent which took home a total of two golds, five silvers and 13 bronzes in the week-long tournament.
The junior competition was held simultaneously with cadet and para divisions which, as a whole, were joined by more than 1,300 participants from 44 countries across the continent.
