Nakatulong umano ang taekwondo sa paghubog kay Paolo Duterte na ngayon ay kongresista na ng Davao City.

Ito ang sinabi ni coach Johnny Kim, ang organizer ng 10th Pulong Duterte Taekwondo Championship na ginanap sa SM Annex Ecoland sa Davao City.

Ayon kay Kim, sumalang sa taekwondo training si Duterte bago ito naging politiko.

“I have been on this journey for a long time already. Paolo [Duterte] was young back then when I trained him (in taekwondo). He was not yet a politician at that time. We are grateful for his support to the club and to our taekwondo athletes,” sabi ni Kim.

Ang iniisip umano ng marami ay puro lang sipa at pakikipaglaban ang taekwondo.

“It’s more of an exercise, the learning of proper skills and techniques, and, most significantly, disciplining oneself. If you look at Paolo Duterte now, he has grown up to be a fine and disciplined man,” sabi ni Kim.

Ayon kay Kim nakatutulong ang Pulong Duterte tournament upang maihanda ang mga atleta na sasabak sa mga national at international competition.

Sa katatapos na 10th Pulong Duterte Taekwondo Championship, ang Regional Central Gym (RCG) Strikers Tagum ang naging overall champion.

Ang team RCG Kaizen naman ang first runner-up na sinundan ng RCG Matanao (second runner-up) at Hwarang (third runner-up), ayon kay Kim.

Sinabi ni Kim na nasa 700 manlalaro umano sang lumahok sa event. (Billy Begas)