BAGUIO CITY -- Cagayan de Oro City’s taekwondo team delivered the city’s first medals on Monday, September 17, in the 2017-2018 Batang Pinoy National Championships at the University of Baguio gym here.
Charisse Esclamado handed Cagayan de Oro’s first gold after dominating Christine Villasor of Cebu Province via 23-7 win in the cadet female LTM category final.
The 13-year-old Esclamado, a pride of Camp Alagar in Lapasan and a second year high school student of St. Mary’s School, also defeated Heart Li Shan Chua of Laguna and Danielle Lourdesette Origenes of Pasig City in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively.
Esclamado, who hails from the Furious A’s Taekwondo Academy of coach Ben Ree Toledo and a member of the RP Taekwondo cadets squad, won all matches in lopsided results.
“We had a proper preparation including the weather and atmosphere in Baguio and everything worked out as planned,” said Toledo.
Kyle Canios, a pride of Barangay 23, salvaged a bronze after losing to the much taller Asha Blanche Paga of Cebu Province in the cadet female flyweight semifinal round.