Marie June Adriano secured the Philippines’ second karate medal at the 20th Asian Games after taking bronze in the women’s kumite -50kg division on Wednesday at the Toyohashi Gymnasium.
The 22-year-old Filipino karateka defeated Chinese Taipei’s Ya-chi Chung, 10-3, in the bronze-medal bout at the Toyohashi Gymnasium to claim her first Asian Games medal.
Adriano opened her campaign with victories over Cambodia’s Srey Phea Chonn, 4-3, and South Korea’s Yang Yewon, 4-0, before suffering a narrow 5-4 loss to Hong Kong’s Tsang Yee Ting in the semifinals.
She entered the bronze-medal match with added motivation after losing to Chung in their previous two meetings. Adriano said she studied those bouts and made the necessary adjustments for their third encounter.
“Pangatlong beses na po naming nagharap,” said Adriano.
The PUP Human Kinetics student from Llanera, Nueva Ecija, then relied on her preparation and technique to stay composed in the deciding bout, while drawing confidence from her coach’s instructions.
“Mas nagtiwala po ako sa technique ko, sa kung ano yung baon ko, kung ano yung trinain ko para sa competition na ito,” she said.
Adriano also recalled her coach’s reminder to remain in the middle and wait for the right opportunity to attack.
“Sa atin na ito, sa amin na ito. Kailangan ko lang mag-work,” Adriano said.
The bronze marked a breakthrough for Adriano in her first Asian Games appearance and added to the Philippines’ medal haul in Nagoya.
“Super laking bagay niya para sa akin. As a first-timer, talagang yung pressure, nandoon lahat,” Adriano said. “Sobrang happy po ako na isa ako sa napili at nakapagbigay ako ng medalya para sa Pilipinas.”
Adriano’s bronze was the Philippines’ second medal in karate and fifth overall.
A day earlier, the Philippine women’s kata team of Rebecca Cyril Torres, Samantha Emmanuelle Veguillas, and Ysabielle Arrogante also captured bronze.
