Jayson Macaalay narrowly lost his second bout, 1-0, against Farzaliyev Firdovsi of Azerbaijan, to exit the 2021 Karate Olympic Qualification Tournament at the Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris, France, Friday.
This tournament serves as a final qualification tournament to the Tokyo Olympics next month.
With just 30 seconds left of the clock, the Azerbaijani snuck in a punch to the face of Macaalay. The center referee then asked for a review.
Eventually, it scored and Firdovsi took the lead with a yuko.
Macaalay tried to overhaul the deficit but could not connect. The time eventually expired and the buzzer sounded.
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist earlier made a good account of himself over Netherlands’ Omar Laatar, 2-0, in the first round.
The Filipino secured his passage into the next round with a punch to the body for a yuko; and another one to face for another yuko with less than two minutes left.
