MANILA, Philippines — Taekwondo action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games gets going Saturday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with reigning champion Thailand expected to be challenged by the Philippines for dominance in the discipline where 22 gold medals are at stake.

Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam are also expected to be in the mix, along with Cambodia, Laos and Timor Leste.

Eight poomsae events kick off action at 1 p.m., with the Philippines’ Dustin Mella, Raphael Enrico Mella and Rodolofo Reyes Jr., the defending champion in the men’s team event, expected to have their hands full against the Malaysian squad of Chew Wei Yan, Kok Jun Ee and Yong Jin Kun.

Focus will also be on Vietnam’s Ho Thanh Phong, Le Hieu Nghia and Nguyen Thien Phung, the bronze medalists in 2017 in Kuala Lumpur.

After finishing third behind Vietnam and Thailand two years ago, Jocel Lyn Ninobla, Juvenile Faye Crisostoma and Rinna Babanto are expected to go for the gold in the women’s team event.

They are expected to encounter stiff opposition from Vietnam’s Chau Tuyet Van, Lien Thi Tuyet Mai and Nguyen Thi Le Kim, the defending champions, and the Indonesian squad of Defia Rosmaniar, Mutiara Habiba and Ruhil, the silver medalists two years ago.

“Taekwondo has always been a source of pride for the country in international competitions. The expectations of many put pressure on us, but it is also a great motivation playing before the home crowd,” said Babanto, 22, a bronze medalist in the 2018 Asian Games and gold winner in the 2019 Korea Open. (LO/IAMIGO.CNS)