MANILA – After striking gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, Filipina taekwondo jin Tachiana Mangin has her sights set on a bigger goal.
The 18-year-old ended Thailand's reign in the women's -49kg kyorugi event, taking home gold in the regional showcase held in Bangkok last December.
Mangin, who is the first Filipina to win a Junior World Championship, hopes to qualify for the 2026 Asian Games to be held in Japan this September to October.
"This year po meron po kaming Asian Games. Ngayon po kasi nagbago po kami ng rules for Taekwondo para po ma-qualify sa Asian Games. Meron po muna kaming Asian Championships which gaganapin po sa May," she told reporters on Thursday.
Mangin said the national taekwondo team has been training for the upcoming Asian Championships.
With less than two months left to prepare, the young taekwondo jin said they will ramp up their training to ensure a slot to the Asiad.
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"Next week magsisimula na po kami ng three times a day training. So talagang for me po importante po siya kasi first time po din po makakalaro sa Asian Games," Mangin said.
"Masaya po and hopefully po na manalo po sa Asian Championships para po makalaro po sa Asian Games," she added.
Despite having a SEA Games gold medal and Junior World Championship, Mangin believes she still has a lot to improve on, especially as she braces for tough competition.
"Siguro po yung skill wise, magdagdag pa po ako ng left legs. And more on mental training and weight management," she said.
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"Gagawin ko din po siyang inspiration and motivation po to do better po, not as pressure in a negative way," Mangin shared of her accolades.
After making history in Thailand, the 18-year-old Filipina taekwondo jin hopes to achieve more in her young career and raise the flag once again.