Taekwondo jin Juliana Candelaria with fellow Asian Games medalist Jeus Yape. POC Media
NAGOYA – Making her Asian Games debut at 18 years old, Juliana Candelaria headed into Nagoya simply wanting to do her best and take things one step at a time.
The teenager is leaving the continental showcase with shiny hardware and more confidence moving forward in her young career.
Candelaria bagged silver in the women's individual poomsae event on Thursday at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.
READ: Juliana Candelaria bags silver in women's poomsae; Jeus Yape takes bronze in men's side
"[I'm] super thankful for the moment. Super happy with my results. And super na-wow din ko sa mga performance ng iba kong kalaban," she told POC Media.
"Going into finals, I just had to reset my mind to what's coming next. And to take everything one step at a time," the 18-year-old added.
Taking a step back to refocus herself proved to be one of the keys to her silver medal finish at her young age.
Philippine taekwondo poomsae team head coach Rani Ortega, who also brought glory to the country as an athlete, was there to help Candelaria shake off the jitters.
"Being a first-time athlete sa Asian Games, syempre, meron konting kaba. And then, feeling of the environment, feeling overwhelmed by everything. So after the semifinals, I told her, now you know how you feel, how it feels, the environment, everything, the crowd, the venue. So sabi ko, sa finals, you just focus on you na," she explained.
"We had ample time naman from the semifinals to the finals. So, regroup, reset, regroup. The support that the coaches and the PT officials and yung PT and si Doc Karen, kinausap din siya kanina nung lunchtime. So, it takes a village. So, very happy for the support of everybody," Ortega added.
Candelaria not only made a mark in her Asian Games debut, but she showed that there's nowhere to go but up for the country's taekwondo jins.
"What to take from here is live in the moment. What I did for this competition is just to enjoy and take it and everything. Such a big game," she shared.
"So ano lang, just enjoying my performance, enjoying what's happening around me and just being super, duper grateful for everything," Candelaria added.
At her young age, Candelaria is already inspiring the next generation of taekwondo jins, hoping her silver medal finish will encourage them to try the sport.
"Take everything one step at a time. Because pag masyado kang nagmadali, baka hindi mo ma-enjoy yung kabataan mo. As things come to you, be grateful for everything that's happening and to just live and enjoy," she said.
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