A THOMASIAN snagged a gold medal in the 2020 Online World Taekwondo-Asia Championships Poomsae Open on Saturday.
UST’s Darius Venerable trumped representatives from Korea and Indonesia with a 7.02-point performance to top the men’s free style category.
UST poomsae coach Rani Ann Ortega said such a tournament helped keep her wards motivated during the pandemic lockdown.
Venerable cited the need to stay focused. “Walang nanonood sayo, hindi kagaya ‘nong ibang competition” prior to the pandemic, he told the Varsitarian.
Philippine Team players are monitored weekly and given mental training workshops to keep them mentally active as national athletes, Ortega said.
Venerable was a rookie for UST’s poomsae team in UAAP’s Season 82 where he bagged a silver medal in the men’s team category.
