Mangin eyes Asiad taekwondo berth

MANILA, Philippines — It’s onwards and upwards for young taekwondo jin Tachiana Mangin.

Mangin, a former world junior champion and a gold medalist in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, is aiming to make some noise in the upcoming 2026 Asian Games.

The 18-year-old said she is setting her sights on the biennial event, set from September to October this year in Japan.

If ever, it will be her first time playing in the Asian Games.

But for now, she needs to go through the Asian Championships for a shot at the Asiad.

“This year po meron po kaming Asian Games. Ngayon po kasi nagbago po kami ng rules for Taekwondo para po ma-qualify sa Asian Games. Meron po muna kaming Asian Championships which gaganapin po sa May,” Mangin told reporters at the sidelines of the groundbreaking of the new National Taekwondo Center in Manila.

“Yun po yung pinaghahandaan po namin ngayon,” she added.

A medal in the Asian championships will guarantee her slot in the Asian Games, Mangin said, as she underscored the need to go hard in training.

Mangin added that they will start three-times-a-day training next week.

“So talagang for me po importante po siya kasi first time po din po makakalaro sa Asian Games,” she said.

“Masaya po and hopefully po na manalo po sa Asian Championships para po makalaro po sa Asian Games.”

She added that she needs to work on her skills more, as well as mental training and weight management.

Mangin also said that she will be using her title as a junior world champion as a boost for her Asian Games aspirations.

“Gagawin ko din po siyang inspiration and motivation po to do better po, not as pressure in a negative way.”

With the new taekwondo center set to be completed in December this year, the taekwondo jin said it is a huge boost for athletes.

“Super po. Mas na-inspire po kami and na-motivate po kami to do our best sa training para po manalo po kami ng more gold sa yung competitions.”

Mangin ruled the women's 49 kilogram kyorugi in the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, ending Thailand's long rule in the event.

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