Young Filipino and UAE-based athletes from Oryx Taekwondo Abu Dhabi hauled a combined 34 medals at the 9th Heroes Taekwondo International Championships held here from July 31 to August 2, 2026, competing in both Poomsae and Kyorugi events at the Eastern National Sports Training Center.
The delegation medaled across individual, pair, and team divisions, according to details provided by Oryx Taekwondo founder and head coach Mary Ann Lopez.
Amelia Gavine Brucal and Olivia Ysabelle Brucal each claimed gold in Kyorugi Class B, while Jay Maxwell Lavadia and Zoe Alexine Prollo topped their Poomsae Individual divisions. Janna Hilary Samonte, Rayan Janel Dumpit, Yanni Corpuz, Ark Nickhier Raborar, and Amelia Gavine Brucal figured in the team’s Poomsae Team golds. Alexus Corpuz, David Sandlin, and Aisha Mabrouk added to the silver and bronze haul across Kyorugi and Poomsae categories.
Months of preparation behind the medals
For the Oryx Jins, the podium finishes capped months of training that ran through the summer break. Many of the athletes are students balancing competition preparation with school, some following the UAE academic calendar and others enrolled under the Philippines’ Department of Education system, where classes were already in session.
Several athletes went straight from school to training, arriving tired but continuing to prepare, Lopez said. Rather than spending their vacation on leisure, the athletes turned their summer into an intensive training camp ahead of the international meet.
Two families rebook flights to make Day 1
The road to Pattaya was not smooth for everyone. Two families whose original itineraries included connecting flights through India were forced to book separate flights out of pocket due to the current travel situation, doing so to ensure their athletes could arrive in time for Day 1 of the competition.
Rising international airfares had already made the trip a difficult decision for many families. Parents arranged time off from work, reorganized schedules, and in several cases brought coaches and additional family members so more athletes could compete internationally with their team beside them.
Coaches and parents also worked together to help the young athletes maintain their proper competition weight throughout preparation — a demanding task for growing children juggling school, training, and family life.
More than medals
For the coaching staff, the medals were not the only measure of the trip. Lopez pointed to the athletes learning to manage fear, stay humble in victory, accept defeat with sportsmanship, and support teammates who fell short of their goals.
“As we develop and grow our athletes, we also develop and train ourselves — coaches and parents — even when we are not aware of it,” Lopez said.
The head coach said the championship was a shared journey for athletes, coaches, and parents alike, with each group taking lessons in discipline, patience, and sacrifice from the experience.
Gratitude to the federation
Oryx Taekwondo Abu Dhabi extended its thanks to the UAE Taekwondo Federation for its support of the team’s participation in the championships.
The delegation competed under the banner of Oryx Taekwondo, Abu Dhabi, representing their club, families, and the wider community on an international stage.
