DECORATED Dabawenya jin Alani Uy Labrador shone brighter than the neon lights as she snared three gold medals in the Las Vegas Open international taekwondo championship last Oct. 7 in Las Vegas Nevada, United States of America (USA).
The 11-year-old red belt reigned supreme in the girl’s 48kg 12 and under red belt division kyorugi (sparring), poomsae, and wood-breaking events.
Alani displayed her accuracy and timing to outclass three entries from Korea and the USA in the kyorugi event before outshining five jins in the poomsae competition with her graceful and slick form. No wood deck was too hard for her as she impressively showcased her strength and power in the wood-breaking competition to secure her third gilt in the event sanctioned by the USA Taekwondo (USATKD).
With her stellar performance, Alani has earned points to begin her US National Ranking quest.
Alani didn’t only make her supportive family proud but also her three seasoned coaches Paul Romero, a Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) coach, a former National Team coach and athlete, and a bronze medalist in the 2010th Asian Games; Jeordan Dominguez, a decorated two-time world champion and two-time Asian champion athlete; and Sarah Joy Arellano, a California-based master PTA Coach.
Alani’s US gold medal haul came after clinching a silver medal in the girl’s kyorugi event of the National Interschool Taekwondo Competition held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium that attracted over 4,000 jins all over the Philippines.
She was the lone athlete representing the International School of Manila, who bravely competed in the grade school female under 150kg category against jins from St. Scholastica College, Don Bosco, La Salle LT, Colegio San Nicholas, Tanauan Elem School, Bato ES, St Vincent ES, New Prodon Academy of Valenzuela, Cavite Institute, Don Jose University, St Louis University, Integrated School of Rizal, St Pilar Cavite and Living Lamp Academy.
With boosted morale, Alani is set to conquer the Singapore Daedo Taekwondo Open in December.
