NEGRENSE Angeline Alcantara, a mainstay of Hanah Taekwondo gym, outscored her Russian counterpart Oksana Smirnova in the finals, 18-3 to capture the gold medal for the Philippines in the -44 kg of the just-concluded 2017 World Cadet Taekwondo Championships in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Alcantara survived a close semifinal match against Tunisia’s Chaima Toumi, 7-5.
“We almost lost the game as Angeline was behind, 5-4. But God favored us with the victory when Angeline was able to land a head kick for three points with eight seconds left and scored a win,” Hanah Taekwondo head coach Vic Feria said of the come-from-behind victory.
In the quarterfinals, Alcantara easily disposed Ukrainian Sofia Mykhailova, 23-3, and in the eliminations, she beat Indian Khushboo Kumari, 26-5 before dispatching Italian Elisabeth Turco, 17-8.
“God really has a purpose and a plan for this child. We fought against the world’s high-rated players and even taller ones, but Angeline finished victorious. God has seen our sacrifices and struggles to achieve Angeline’s dreams in the world tournament. And, of course, to her parents for their full support in our campaign,” Feria added.
“We are also very thankful to Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano for all the help they extended to us in this journey. We are likewise grateful to the parents of my students at Hanah gym who helped us and to our delegation head Harny Tabuada,” he said.
“When I get home, I will continue to work hard to produce a world champion player. It’s because at the end of the day, it’s all worth it, Feria added.” (HGD)
