Tokyo Olympics veteran Kurt Bryan Barbosa will lead the eight-man SMART/MVP Sports Foundation Philippine Taekwondo Team vying for glory against the best and toughest fighters in the world in the 2022 World Taekwondo Championships slated Nov. 13 to 20 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The pride of National University and one-time Most Valuable Player in the UAAP Season 81, Barbosa, the first Filipino taekwondo jin who made it to pandemic-delayed Olympics in Japan last year since Tshomlee Go in the 2008 edition, will try to rebound from a failed bid on his first world championship stint armed with a much better preparation and exposure.
“Naghanda po kami ng todo para dito. Halos dalawang buwan din po kaming nagtraining sa Korea para mabawi yung dalawang taong pahinga dahil sa pandemic. Babawi po ako dito,” said the 22-year-old who failed on his mission in 2019 edition when he lost in his Round of 64 match in the men’s finweight class.
Joining him in this prestigious competition are fellow 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Dave Cea (-74kg), Laila Delo (-67kg), Baby Jessica Canabal (-53kg), Joseph Chua (63kg), and Alfritz Arevalo (-68kg). Raul Romero and Carlos Jose Padilla will be the coach, while Raul Samson is team manager and former Senator Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng is the Head of Delegation.
“This tournament is important for our athletes as they trying to earn much points to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Nakaprograma na sa amin yung mga tournaments na malatutulong sa atin pagdating sa point system, as much as possible we have to join on this competition next year,” said Samson.
The team’s participation is also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).