TACHIANA Mangin, a 15-year-old Filipina 10th grader, bagged the gold medal in the 49-kilogram category at the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea.

In the finals against hometown bet Kim Hyang-gi, Mangin secured the win after three rounds of sparring via a 14-8, 3-4, 7-6 decision.

Mangin is the first Filipino to clinch a gold medal in the world junior taekwondo tournament.

WINNING HIT Philippines' Tachiana Mangin (right) connects a solid hit against South Korea's Kim Hyang-gi during the gold medal match of the 2024 World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, on Oct. 4, 2024. PHOTO FROM WORLD TAEKWONDO FB PAGE

Before her finals appearance, Mangin won her semifinal bout by walkover against Greece's Lamprini Anna Asimaki because she was injured.

Asimaki and fellow losing semifinalist Aiuna Menkenova of Individual Neutral Athlete both settled for the bronze in the tournament that drew athletes from more than 50 countries.

The Philippine Taekwondo Association, in a series of posts on their Facebook page on Friday and Saturday, congratulated Mangin on her gold medal win.

Taekwondo varsity coach Elmer Rafael wrote: "It truly feels special for us Filipinos to hear the national anthem of the Philippines played during the awarding ceremony in honor of our new World Junior Champion, Tachiana Mangin. Congratulations!"

Mangin defeated Spain's Judith Cordoba in the round of 32, Natkamon Wassana of Thailand in the round of 16 and Egypt's Habiba Wael Emerah in the quarterfinals before meeting Lamprini in the semifinals and Kim in the finals.

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