MARIKINA City – Western Visayas’ taekwondo team contributed to the region’s medal hauls as they ended up a runner-up in the 2023 Palarong Pambansa which closed over the weekend here.
Ilonggo Justine James Diasnes of the A. Diasnes Taekwondo Gym added to the gold medal collection. He emerged on top in secondary boys kyorugi lightweight category.
Feri Carmel Perez also clinched a gold medal for the Region 6 delegation. She prevailed over her opponents in secondary girls kyorugi flyweight category.
Jean Durana, a native of Negros Occidental but is now based in Antique, also contributed a gold medal for the Blue Barons. He topped the welterweight division of kyorugi.
Ilonggas Elizabeth Marie Borres, Mariel Angela Siscar and Julianna Martha Uy, meanwhile, contributed a silver medal in secondary girls team poomsae event.
The Iloilo City-based pair of Jesseray Lucas Frantilla and Mariel Angela Siscar also ended a runner-up in mixed pair poomsae, while Antiqueño Scott Ashton Demafiles had a silver in individual poomsae elementary category.
Western Visayas also bagged silvers from Cyd Edryc Esmaña in secondary boys individual poomsae, secondary mixed pair and team poomsae, and a bronze medal from Uy in secondary girls individual poomsae.
Also with silver medals for the WV delegation were Sophia Marie Bautista (elementary girls group 3), Felix Ace Perez (secondary boys flyweight) and Kyle Chin (secondary boys featherweight), all from Iloilo City.
The delegation also wound up their campaign with three bronze medals, led by Negrense Joshua Emmanuel Deita in the secondary boys kyorugi open weight category.
Iloilo’s Mary Noelle Alim and Neilin Jo Samson also finished with bronze medals each in the secondary girls bantamweight and welterweight, respectively./PN
