MANILA – With Asian Games taekwondo gold still elusive for the Philippines, the country is bringing in veterans and a rising athlete for the kyorugi event.
Olympian Kurt Barbosa and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Tachiana Mangin are leading the charge in kyorugi at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Barbosa brings in a wealth of experience from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the SEA Games where he has won three gold medals, and several international competitions.
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Olympian Kurt Barbosa in action in the UAAP Season 85 taekwondo tournament. UAAP Media/FileThe kyorugi team went to South Korea for a three-week training camp, followed by competitions as part of its preparations for the continental showcase.
After settling for bronze at the 2025 SEA Games, Barbosa is determined to bounce back with a more positive mindset and better preparation.
READ: Kurt Barbosa settles for bronze in Thailand SEA Games
"Natutunan ko doon yung win pa rin. Kasi nanalo pa rin ako eh. So, nag-stick ako dun. Tapos yung natalo ako, inisip ko lang na [learning experience] yun. Hindi yun talo. So, nag-keep forward lang ako hanggang makuha ka ulit yung magandang pakiramdam, magandang mindset," he told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview.
"I'm feeling good. I'm feeling ready. The energy is good. As you can see, the training is so hard talaga. So we need to push, push, push lang ng push. And we need to keep [moving] forward," Barbosa added.
The three-time SEA Games gold medalist won gold in the under 54kg division at the 7th Kimunyong Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships last July. For Barbosa, the recent victory gives him a boost heading into his second Asiad.
"Sobrang ganda lang [sa] pakiramdam. Parang bumalik yung confident talaga, yung paano maglaro sa court, paano yung awareness sa lahat, paano makinig sa tamang coach talaga, kung ano yung papagawa ng coach, gawa lang. Saka, more focus talaga," he shared.
Joining Barbosa are fellow veterans team captain SEA Games bronze medalist Dave Cea (-80kg), SEA Games silver medalist Laila Delo (67kg), and SEA Games bronze medalist Jessica Canabal (-57kg).
"So ngayon po kasi ang preparation, nagkaroon po kami ng Korea training. Tapos after po noon, nag-China competition po kami. So parang for me, dere-derecho yung laban," Canabal said entering her third Asiad.
"Tapos pagbalik dito, three weeks na may training pa kami. So yung mga error na lang sa mga laban ko na nauna is more on aayusin na lang po din dito," she added.
Despite finding out about their callup with a month left, Cea and Delo remain ready to compete for the flag in their second Asiad appearance.
"Anytime I'm ready naman po sa mga laro kasi always naman po kami nag-training. And leading po dito sa paparating na Asian Games, Nag-Korea training naman po na kami. And for me, basta sabihin kung lalaro ako or anytime, I'll always [be] ready," Cea shared.
GOLDEN GIRL TACHIANA
Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Tachiana Mangin celebrates her triumph. POC Media/File
Following her golden performance at the 2025 SEA Games and a stellar juniors career, Mangin is looking forward to testing her skills on a bigger stage.
Mangin brought home gold in the women's 49kg kyorugi event of the regional meet, ending the reign of host Thailand in her division.
READ: After SEAG gold, taekwondo jin Tachiana Mangin eyes Asian Games
This time, the 18-year-old juniors champion is eager to make her mark in her Asian Games debut.
"Excited po ako kasi after nung SEA Games, next goal na po is Asian Games and nag-eenjoy lang po ako sa process," she said.
"Goal ko po, obviously is makuha po yung gold medal. And so far, alam ko po, wala pa daw po nakakuha ng gold medal. So, yun po yung motivation ko. Yung mga previous international competitions ko po, parang doon ko nakikita yung mga kulang ko and mali ko," Mangin said.
The 18-year-old said one of her motivations is her father, who is flying to Japan to watch her compete just like he did at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand.
"Pupunta ulit si Daddy si Japan... First time niya po manood ng in-person akong naglalaro sa international stage which is yung SEA Games and ngayon po sa Japan," she said.
Being the youngest member of the Asiad national team, Mangin is grateful to her seniors for their support and for pushing her during training.
With a mix of veterans and rising star Mangin, the team is optimistic of its chances of bringing home a medal from the continental showcase.
The Philippine taekwondo team. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News
"Para sa amin, naka-focus lang po muna kami sa preparation po talaga. Ine-enjoy lang po namin yung training, yung araw-araw na ginagawa namin. Next na lang po yung result sa amin. Parang always naman po kami ready to give our best," Cea said.
"Given naman po na pinaghirapan, alam namin sa isa't isa na nagtulungan naman po kami dito and wala rin naman pong imposible na may magmedal po sa amin dito sa Asian Games," Canabal added.
"Yung chances talaga namin higit pa sa 100%. Basta tiwala lang kami sa sarili namin. And we believe our coaches, we believe our training, we believe our preparation. So, pinaka-importante talaga, believe kami sa sarili namin," Barbosa said.
The Asian Games will officially open on September 19 at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.