Patrick King Perez scored the breakthrough for Team Pilipinas at the 19th Asian Games by clinching a coveted bronze medal in the men’s individual poomsae event.
This remarkable achievement marked the first podium finish for the Philippine contingent at continental meet.
Perez, a 23-year-old athlete with a Southeast Asian Games gold medal to his name, showcased his prowess despite encountering a setback in the semifinals against Ma Yunzhong, representing Chinese Taipei on Sunday at the Lin’an Sports and Culture Exhibition Centre in Hangzhou, China.
Perez’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he executed a nearly flawless routine in the recognized category, earning him a commendable score of 7.640 points.
In the freestyle segment, he continued to impress, amassing 6.180 points.
On the other side of the competition, Ma secured a total of 7.450 points. His standout performance featured an impressive 8.000 score in the recognized act and a strong 6.900 in the freestyle sequence.
Perez’s journey to the podium began with a victory over Souksavanh Chanthilath of Laos in the round of 16.
He then faced off against Nepal’s Prem Bahadur Limbu in the quarterfinals, where he delivered another stellar routine and earned a score of 7.560 points, firmly cementing his well-deserved bronze medal position.
Hailing from De La Salle University and proudly representing the Green Jins in the UAAP, Perez’s outstanding performance set the stage for a thrilling semifinal showdown with Ma.
Meanwhile, ocel Lyn Ninobla, in her quest for success, encountered tough competition and, unfortunately, did not advance to the quarterfinals.
She accumulated a score of 7.560, falling just short of South Korean competitor Cha Yeaeun, who secured a score of 7.680.
