Tachiana Mangin’s SEA Games debut culminated in a gold medal, a moment made even more special as her father, Ronald, watched her compete internationally for the first time.
It was a day of firsts for Tachiana Mangin, and a moment her father, Ronald, will never forget.
The 18-year-old capped her debut Southeast Asian Games stint by claiming gold in the women’s -49 kg kyorugi event on Friday, December 12, at Fashion Island Shopping Mall.
Mangin bested Thai counterpart Kamonchanok Seeken to give the Philippines its second taekwondo gold of the meet after Kobe Macario’s triumph in the men’s freestyle individual poomsae.
The former UST standout added another feather to her international resume, a year after her historic victory at the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea.
Mangin’s SEA Games debut was made even more special as she competed in front of her father, Ronald, who told Cignal’s Juliana Vargas it was his first time seeing her compete abroad.
"Very proud ako sa kaniya kasi pangarap niya talagang makalaro sa SEA Games tapos nanalo pa siya ng gold. Worth it 'yung mga paghihirap niya at 'yung mga sacrifices niya sa training," Ronald Mangin told Cignal’s Juliana Vargas
Other Filipino taekwondo jins also added to the medal haul.
Nusair Lao and Laila Delo claimed silver in the men’s -68 kg and women’s -73 kg kyorugi events, respectively, while Aljen Aynaga took bronze in the men’s -58 kg division.
(With reports from Juliana Vargas/Cignal)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.