The country’s taekwondo jins struggled significantly on the third day of competition at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Poomsae specialist King Patrick Perez successfully secured the country’s first medal – a bronze – the Philippine jins faced consecutive defeats. Three more contenders lost to their stronger and taller opponents.
Baby Jessica Canabal was unable to maintain her impressive start, narrowly losing to Uzbekistan’s Charoz Kayumoba in the women’s -53kg class. Despite her earlier victory over Japan’s Yuzoko Katoh with a score of 2-1, her Uzbek opponent displayed superior craftiness and strategy.
The other competitors, Joseph Chua and Jubilee Briones, were eliminated in the Round-of-16 in their respective events. Chua suffered defeat to Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Gazez in the men’s -63kg category.
Meanwhile, Briones fell to Thai athlete Phannapa Harnsujin in the -57kg division.
On Monday, Tokyo Games veteran Kurt Barbosa and Nica Garces also faced defeat against their respective opponents, although they put up a strong fight.
The responsibility of ending the country’s gold medal drought in this popular sport now falls on the shoulders of veterans Samuel Morrison, Kirstie Alora, and David Cea.
