Oro's Sia qualifies for 2010 World Open

BEATING the Koreans in the event that made them popular in global sports arena is obviously a daunting task to follow.
 
But Cagayan de Oro native Shaneen Hembrador Sia did accomplish an almost "impossible mission" right smack in martial arts-craze Korea, otherwise known as the Taekwondo Capital of the World.

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Not just one gold, but the angelic-face Sia added one in the tough face-off between Korea's finest and the best from foreign rivals in poomsae showdown that she's now considered to be a certified expert.
 
The 17-year-old Sia also powered the Philippine team to a couple of silver finishes in team competition and bronze in the pair event.
 
According to her ever supportive mother Cheryl, it was only the first time in the annual Korea Open that a foreign competitor had succeeded in beating the Koreans in taekwondo's poomsae or an art in showcasing fighting skills through individual "form demonstration" in graceful manner. 

"Nobody had expected of her to hurdle the challenge in the preliminary round, which was a free-for-all showdown. And winning another gold in what considered as the best-of-the-best culminating part of the 2010 Korea Open is such an outstanding feat that virtually raised the RP team's performance to another level," the elder Sia told this writer via Facebook. 

For this, the former International School (IS) standout and Arsenal Taekwondo Center holdover becomes the strongest candidate outside from the vaunted Korea nationals to represent the Asian region in the 2010 World Taekwondo Championships on Oct. 8-10 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

"We will know the complete details after the RP team's arrival from Korea. Pero sa akong tan-aw, automatic naman siguro nga qualify siya sa World Open," her father, Eh Di Sia told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. 

Tons of praises were heaped on Sia's latest conquest outside the country.  
One Dindo D. Simpao posted five letter Ms on her FB account, describing Sia as "magaling, maganda, matalino, masipag, mahusay." 

Another fan, Elsa Basa Lidasan summed up that it's not impossible for the youthful Sia to scale greater heights "because she has the big fighting heart to win."