From online meets to actual competitions, there’s no stopping the Philippine Taekwondo – Poomsae team to bag multiple medals and to bring honor to the country.
And one of those who recently competed outside the motherland is SEA Games gold medalist Rodolfo Reyes, Jr., who took home 2 bronze medals in the 2021 Asian Taekwondo Poomsae Championships held in Lebanon last month.
Reyes tells his recent medal victory during the weekly TOPS Usapang Sports on Air forum.
“Parang mas nakakatuwa po na magcompete ulit ng face-to-face at irerepresent po ulit ang country po natin sa ibang bansa. Ngayon po nakakapanibago kasi dati po pag compete, biyahe lang sabay laban ka agad, ngayon po ang dami po kailangang sundin na health protocols gaya ng quarantine at swab test. Sabay ngayon ang maganda po, nakakatuwa kasi naging maganda ang result ng competition namin kasi kahit papaano lahat po kami nakapaguwi ng medal po.”, Reyes said.
The 26-year old Cavite native Reyes and the team, who get together for the first time since the pandemic began, went to Inspire Sports Academy for their bubble training, and then headed straight to Lebanon to compete against top Asian jins. And the result of their hard work and patience paid off as the squad captured 2 golds, 3 silvers and 5 bronze medals in the 1-day poomsae contest.
Coming into the SEA Games in November in Vietnam, Reyes, who also served as assistant coach of the UST Poomsae Team, embraced both pressure and excitement in his mind despite talks on possible postponement looms.
Currently, he undergo online training programs along with their other PH teammates to stay prepared physically and mentally for upcoming local and international competitions, including the Asian Online Open Taekwondo Championships set next weekend.
Finally, Reyes thanked those who offered their support and prayers for the national team in their successful journey.
“Super thankful sa support at prayers po na binibigay ngayon kasi di po madali na magcompete sa ngayon kasi di po namin alam na pagbalik namin, baka may mahawa sa amin or what po, pero yung nga po masaya po kami na ligtas kami makauwi at higit sa lahat nakapagbigay po kami ng medal po para sa bansa natin.”, Reyes ended.
