ABIGAIL Sangalang will punch above her weight and age when she competes at the Australian Open and National Taekwondo Championships in September.
The student of Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta, boasts an impressive fighting resume which is no surprise given her family background.
She is a two-time national champion (2005 and 2007) and her mother was a former Philippine national taekwondo team member in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
But while Sangalang has no doubts where her allegiance lies, she is less convinced of who would prevail in a match between herself and her mother when she was the same age.
"I'm better technically but she's tougher mentally," she said.
"I'm a nice person and I shake hands after my fights but she is more strong-minded.
"Maybe she would win but I'd be a bit quicker.
"She thinks I'm better than her when she was my age.
"I definitely do want to represent Australia.
"I came here from the Philippines when I was six months old and I have grown up here."
The year 9 student would be entitled to be scared as she prepares for her first open age tournament but there is nothing like a bit of advice from two Olympians to settle the nerves.
Sangalang spends her days surrounded by fellow students at her college in Parramatta.
But outside the school walls, she runs in the same circles as 2012 taekwondo Olympians Carmen Marton and Safwan Khalil.