Favored jins lived up to expectation by bagging gold medals in the recent SMART Carlos Palanca Jr. (CPJ) taekwondo championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Among those who pulled through in the senior division of the prestigious event organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Association were flyweight Jyra Lizardo, bantamweight Sugar Catalan, welter Camille Manalo, middleweight Elaine Alora, heavyweight Cristine Virtudazo, feather Manuel Rivero and middleweight Brix Darmo Ramos.

A veteran internationalist carrying the colors of De La Salle University, Lizardo toppled Delta’s Ynah Bonifacio to reign supreme in the fly division.

UP’s Catalan whipped Eunice Alora, UST’s Manalo nipped UP’s Sheena Perlas, CSB’s Elaine Alora topped Rizal’s Kristel Campos, CSB’s Virtudazo beat Angeles City Foundation’s Sarah Jane Greenlees, national team member Rivero outsteadied UP’s John Blas and Teamsport’s Ramos spilled FEU’s Alfonso Santillan.

Other gold medalists in the senior men’s division were UP’s Mickey Cordero, fin; UST’s Nicole Mapilisan, fly; UST’s Paul Romero, bantam; Delta’s Dennis Resaba, light; and UST’s Samuel Morris, welter.

The other senior women’s winners were Rizal’s Michelle Monterey, fin; FEU’s Karla Alava, feather; and UST’s Izel Masungsong, light.