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| Amy Muya (center) beams with her gold cup at the awarding ceremony. With her are (from left) So Sze Ting, Tong Ka Man, Sheryl Rinopa, and an HKTA official. |
Filipina jin Amy Arnaez Muya endured an injury she suffered in July and fought her way to win the featherweight gold cup in Kyorugi (sparring) in the Hong Kong National Ladies Taekwondo Championship 2017 held recently in Shamshuipo.
Muya’s victory snapped a 15-year gold drought for her team, the Himalayan Dragon Taekwondo Academy. It was also the first gold of the Hongkong Nepalese Taekwondo Association, of which HDTA is a member, since the group was founded in 2002.
Muya’s Filipina opponent, Sheryl Rinopa of Chung Do Kwan, fought bravely but could not take the heat off the Ilongga’s determined attack. After three two-minute rounds, the judges scored the duel 56-10 for Muya.
The score soared quickly as Muya, determined to fight, delivered some head shots that earned 3 points and connected multiple body shots.
“Kahit pagod na kami, pinilit naming dalawa, sipa pa rin. Na-enjoy ko ang laban kahit masakit na ang hita ko. Pero mababa na ang sipa niya sa pagod,” Muya said.
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| A well-placed kick in the finals helps win Muya the top spot. |
HKNTA grandmaster Tulsi Kumar Gurung and HDTA master Devchandra Gurung, who have been very supportive of OFWs in taekwondo, as well as team coaches Julie Ann Dalit, Mohan Singh Thapa and Thapa Thanda were overjoyed at Muya’s triumph.
“Finally, Amy grabbed the elusive gold cup for our team, our first gold ever,” Dev Gurung exclaimed as both the HDTA and HKNTA celebrated their four Filipina jins sparkling performances in very tough matches against local and Chinese university students at the Pei Ho Street Sports Stadium in Shamshuipo.
Aside from Muya, three other HDTA cup winners were Mary Rose H. Niebla of Iloilo, who got a silver cup in the finweight category; Rosalina F. Buncag of Isabela, who took a silver cup in welterweight, and Beskie C. Lacaden of Baguio City, who won the bronze in welterweight.
In the past years, Niebla and team members Josie Wayan of Baguio City settled for just the bronze cups in finweight while Lexa of Indonesia also took a bronze in flyweight.
The tournament was hosted by Hong Kong Taekwondo Association on Aug 20-27.
In all, 44 affiliated HKTA member associations comprising local Chinese and ethnic minority Nepalese, Indonesian and Filipino clubs participated in the tournament.
The Hong Kong Nepalese Taekwondo Association has been actively participating in national tournaments garnering medals and trophies since its founding in 2002 by Grandmaster Tulsi Kumar Gurung.
The association has opened its doors to athletes of diverse cultures and religions in Asia, kids and adults, as well as migrant workers such as Filipinos and Indonesians to promote friendship, sportsmanship, discipline and stimulate health consciousness among peoples.
Through taekwondo, individuals of all ages not only enhance their skills and potentials, but also to encourage foreigners like OFWs to spend their weekly holidays productively, maintain physical and mental fitness, lessen homesickness, and exercise positive habits while working away from their loved ones. (contributed by By Lara Kim Maruquiz)
