EVEN though there is a slight change in her stint at the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Poomsae Championships 2016 in Lima, Peru on Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, Rinna Babanto is still confident of bringing home medals.
Babanto is still in the Team Under-30 (Seniors 1) Authorized/Standard poomsae event with Jocel Ninobla and Agelica Joyce Gaw. Her other event, however, won’t be the Individual Under-30 but the Pair event with Dustin Mella.
“I’m still thankful for this opportunity to represent the country. I think, this time, I need to work harder for the team to claim the medal again. Since I have already been paired up with Dustin Mella in the Asian Championship, we are expecting to level up for our last achievement and improve more. I’m still positive and strong,” Babanto, who is a varsity athlete of De La Salle University, told Sun.Star Cebu.
The pair of Babanto and Mella isn’t new. Both are veterans of the sport and were once teammates in a pair event and finished with a bronze medal in the Asian Championship.
Babanto underwent basic training, evaluation and checking two weeks ago and had repetition of forms and checking last week. She is doing performance style in her training this week.
After going through hard training, Babanto is convinced that she has done enough and will do all her best to bring home another gold medal for the Philippines.
“I know we can do it again because we have enough experience and a great training (camp) to prove ourselves in the World Championships,” she said.