By Mike Baños
The Cagayan de Oro Taekwondo Main Gym (A Tradition Of Excellence) team garnered 33 medals in the 8th Daejon MDC Cup International Open Taekwondo Championships held at the Taean General Indoor Gymnasium in Taean City, Republic of Korea from August 11-16, 2023.
Cagayan de Oro Taekwondo Main Gym (A Tradiiton of Excellence)
Philippine Taekwondo Federation
The Oro Jins medal haul included 12 gold medals, 11 silvers and 10 bronze.
A total of 2,000 people from 151 teams from 22 countries at home and abroad joined the tournament, including teams from Tahiti, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
In the Sparring /Kyorugi Competitions, Samric Carl Baculio, Alyza Naomie L. Cairel, Luther C. Uban III, Elrique Vinzo A. Orcales, and Riareese Zoe A. Orcales struck gold, while Franchez Adelle L. Cairel, Larah Mae C. Uban, and Andrew Rynier C. Cinco won the silver, while Marjurie C. Bacal and Christian Dynniel M. Llanos won bronze medals.
Andrew & Head Coach Engr. Vincent Cecil Orcales
In the Individual-Poomsae, Andrew Rynier C. Cinco, Riareese Zoe A. Orcales, Luther C. Uban III, and Larah Mae C. Uban won gold medals, while Christian Dynniel M. Llanos, Samric Carl Baculio, Alyza Naomie L. Cairel, Franchez Adelle L. Cairel, and Marjurie C. Bacal struck for silver, and Lorenzo Josh A. Orcales and Elrique Vinzo A. Orcales finished with the bronze.
For the Forms/ Poomsae, Andrew Rynier C. Cinco emerged as the King of Kings Champion, in the competition pitting all gold medalists against each other.
Andrew with Korean Taekwondo Master Mr. Moon
In the Team-Poomsae, Andrew Rynier C. Cinco, Christian Dynniel M. Llanos, Riareese Zoe A. Orcales, won gold medals, with Marjurie C. Bacal, Franchez Adelle L. Cairel, and Elrique Vinzo A. Orcales won silver, and the duos of Christian Dynniel M. Llanos & Larah Mae C. Uban, Alyza Naomie L. Cairel & Lorenzo Josh A. Orcales, and Marjurie C. Bacal & Elrique Vinzo A. Orcales won bronze medals in the Pair-Poomsae.
Kim Seong-ho, head of the Taean-gun Taekwondo Association, said, “It is a great honor to host an international competition for the first time in Taean.”
Five years ago, a team from the Taekwondo CDO Main Gym garnered 44 medals after a successful campaign in the 7th Seongnam Open International Children Taekwondo Championship held from July 13 to 15 in Seongnam City, Republic of Korea.
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