Carlos Padilla V, a taekwondo jin born and raised in Bacolod City, will make his Southeast Asian Games debut next month when he sees action in the flyweight category of the men's taekwondo event at the Vongchavalitkul Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

The 24-year-old Padilla's inclusion in the national team was relayed to the DAILY STAR yesterday by his coach, Jimjim Chua of the Negros Taekwondo Union.

Chua said he expects Padilla, a three-year RP Team veteran, to do well in Thailand .

“He has improved a lot and has international exposure,” Chua said of Padilla, who started training at the NTU gym at 13-years-old.

“He is a determined, brave and smart fighter,” Chua added.

This year, Padilla competed in the 19 th Fajar Invitational Cup in Iran and also underwent training in the sport's place of origin, Korea , in preparation for the SEA Games.

Padilla, a registered nurse, has made his presence felt in national tournaments, winning gold medals in the Samsung Best of the Best Championships and Carlos Palanca Jr. Taekwondo Championships.

Chua believes a SEA Games victory could move Padilla closer to his cherished goal of making the Olympics.

Padilla is the only Negros Occidental-born member in the taekwondo team for this year's SEA Games, although Bacoleños Antonio Lacson and Monsour Del Rosario have competed in the biennial meet in the past.

Chua said Padilla is an aggressive fighter with a mean power kick and how well he could combine his aggresiveness with his defense could spell the difference in his campaign.

“He kicks in bunches unlike other fighters,” Chua said. “But his aggressiveness leaves him vulnerable to attacks as well”.

Joining Padilla in the team are John Paul Lizardo, finweight; Jeffrey Figueroa, bantamweight; Tshomlee Go, featherweight; Manuel Rivero, lightweight; Ernesto Mendoza, welterweight; Alexander Briones, middleweight, and Michael Alejandrino, heavyweight.*CPT

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