NORTHERN Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) taekwondo team fell short of expectations in the recently-concluded 2018 Palarong Pambansa in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
This, as NMRAA failed to duplicate last year’s impressive feat and finished with only two gold, one silver and three bronze medals to show in taekwondo competition.
NMRAA’s prized jin Michael “Mac-Mac” Porras Jr. bannered last year’s gold haul when he made a record-breaking feat by delivering four of the seven golds taken home by the region’s bets along with four silvers and eight bronzes.
This year’s new Palaro policy, however, limited Porras to compete only in secondary boys’ poomsae event.
Porras won a gold in individual category and a silver in the team poomsae category.
Porras’ father, Michael Sr., revealed that they were made to choose what category to play.
The younger Porras chose to show wares in poomsae event over kirogi.
“Mao nga dili na gyud ma-duplicate ni Mac-Mac ang nahimo niya last year kay gi-strikto nila ang polisiya (Mac-Mac could not duplicate his feat last year because of the stricter policies),” said Michael Sr.
His female counterpart, Laizel Abucay pulled the second gold in the secondary girls’ 52 kgs kirogi.
With the new policy, Porras’ record will never be surpassed as the only taekwondo athlete in Palarong Pambansa history to win the individual and team golds in both poomsae and kirogi categories.