Kristen Aguila claims silver as Philippines opens Taekwondo campaign strong in Asian Youth Games

Rising taekwondo star Kristen Ambriel Aguila delivered the Philippines’ first medal of the 3rd Asian Youth Games after clinching silver in the girls’ individual recognized poomsae event on Thursday at the Exhibition World Bahrain Hall 2.

The 15-year-old standout showcased remarkable poise and precision throughout the tournament before narrowly falling short in the gold medal match, 124-120, against Iran’s Zeinab Shahriari, who used her reach advantage to edge out the young Filipino.

Despite the loss, Aguila’s podium finish marked an impressive start for the Philippine taekwondo team’s campaign.

The teenager had earlier pulled off a thrilling semifinal win over China’s Yuqi Li, 118.4-118.1, rallying from a slow start to secure her spot in the finals. 

Before that, she topped Kyrgyzstan’s Datkaiym Aibekova in the quarterfinals, 114-111, and began her run with a confident victory over Bangladesh’s Suha Rayefa Syeed in the round-of-16. 

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Aguila’s success adds to her growing international résumé. A double gold medalist in last year’s World Taekwondo Grand Slam Youth League in China, she continues to establish herself as one of the country’s brightest young athletes.

Her silver medal also marks only the third time the Philippines has reached the taekwondo podium in the history of the Asian Youth Games — following Pauline Lopez’s gold and Francis Aaron Agojo’s silver in the 2013 edition in Nanjing, China.

Meanwhile, compatriot Caleb Angelo Calde bowed out in the boys’ individual recognized poomsae quarterfinals after an 8.51-8.39 defeat to Iran’s Behdad Naghiee. The pair of Alfonzo Gabriel Tormon and Angel Lyn Yvainne Dacanay also exited in the mixed pair quarterfinals, narrowly losing to Thailand’s Suchanang Injang and Nitikon Yimprasert, 8.5000-8.4300.

The national squad is guided by former World Taekwondo Poomsae champion Rani Ann Ortega Lagman, who continues to mentor the next generation of Filipino martial artists making waves on the international stage.

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