APAYAO EAGLES IS REGIONAL TAEKWONDO OVERALL CHAMPION

June 10, 2023 Sports

LUNA, Apayao

The 1st Gov. Elias C. Bulut Jr. 2023 Regional Taekwondo Championship held at the BGVJr. Memorial Sports Complex here over the weekend was more than a success for the province in terms of hosting but where locals proved their mettle and be the new powerhouse in the sport in Northern Luzon. This after the Apayao Eagles Taekwondo Club (AETC) dominated the very first staging the Governor’s Cup and where guests – players, coaches and parents – expressed their gratitude to the host province for the top notch hospitality they received.

The tournament, which stands as one of the largest taekwondo events in Northern Luzon this year, saw 976 young taekwondo djinns vie for glory during the two-day competition. The AETC clinched six major awards, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in the northern region. Their wins include the coveted overall championship, along with its victories in the grade school, cadet, junior, and senior divisions.

On top of that, Kyra Lexi Juan, an AETC prodigy, was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the female kyorugi (sparring) for her exceptional skills and remarkable performance throughout the tournament. Tournament manager and AETC coach Ruth Viernes expressed her elation to the outcome of the competition and congratulated her team for their historic win. In a Facebook post, she wrote, “A massive congratulations to Apayao Eagles Taekwondo Club for a historical achievement.

This is one meaningful event because Apayao was able to hold a tournament for the very first time with an overwhelming number of participants, and for the record, with the highest number of registered entries among the regional competitions held yet so far, we were able to bag five major awards and the overall champion.” More than 160 players from AETC alone, joined the said tournament. She thanked the positive feedback regarding the hosting as source of inspiration for team.

“Gusto ko po sanang i-share yung feedback from coaches, officiating, players and parents kasi sobrang na overwhelmed sila sa pag tanggap natin sa kanila. Wala raw katulad yung hospitality and excited daw sila sa 2nd Governor’s Cup (I would like to share the feedbacks from coaches, officiating, players and parents because they were overwhelmed with the hospitality from the host province during the meet.

Nothing beats our hospitality (of the host) and they are very excited (to join the) 2nd Governor’s Cup),” Viernes wrote. Known as the premiere taekwondo club in the province, the AETC has been consistently producing talented athletes that are capable of competing in the national and international level. Just last year, AETC competed in Singapore and amassed numerous medals and podium finishes.

Moreover, the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) sanctioned event was participated in by various PTA provincial affiliated chapters and branches in the Cordillera and Regions I and II, proving that AETC can compete against the best clubs and martial artists in Northern Luzon. Likewise, The PTA is hoping that the province, through the Provincial Government of Apayao (PGA), will soon explore the opportunity of hosting a Luzon taekwondo championship in the future.

PML