MANILA, Philippines –  The Philippines bagged its first medal in the 2018 Asian Games as Dustin Jacob Mella, Jeordan Dominguez and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. clinched a bronze in the taekwondo men’s team poomsae on Sunday, August 19 in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

The Philippine trio bowed to China’s Zhu Yuxiang, Hu Mingda and Deng TIngfeng in the semifinal round but still secured a medal in the event. The Nationals scored 7.830 points to China’s 8.180.

“Sobrang saya namin, sobrang nakaka-uplift ng feeling kasi ayun nga, kami ang first medal, and ang pinagdaanan namin, mga training na pinagdaanan namin,” said Dominguez, a University of Baguio student.

(We’re so happy because we won the first medal, it feels uplifting. We went through a lot in training.)

Mella and Reyes – members of the national poomsae team that won the gold in last year’s Southeast Asian Games – teamed up with Dominguez this time as they narrowly edged Iran in the quarterfinals, 8.33-8.10, to assure the Philippines of at least a bronze.  

In the earlier round, the Nationals turned back Saudi Arabia, 8.180-7.640. 

“Nag-step out kami sa mga comfort zone namin para lang makasabay kami dito. And sobrang saya namin dahil sa dami ng sumali, nagawa pa rin nating makakuha ng bronze medal,” said Dominguez.

(We stepped out of our comfort zone just to keep up with the competition. And we’re really happy because out of the many athletes who joined, we still managed to get a bronze medal.)

– Rappler.com