MANCHESTER, ENGLAND -- KATHLEEN Eunice Alora bowed to slippery Hanna Sajc of Sweden, 4-3, Friday as the Philippine taekwondo campaign in the World Championships started on a sad note at the World Qualifying event at the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena here.


The soft-spoken De La Salle coed shed a tear of frustration after chasing Sajc all match long only to absorb crisp counterkicks that kept the Laguna lass at bay and proved decisive in the women’s -49kg division match.

“She did what she had to do, but the opponent was powerfull and skillful,” said women’s team coach Rocky Samson. “There were points not given that I think she deserved, especially in the third round.”

Samson later admitted that Alora moved “stiffly and tight.”

Sacj eventually lost in the quarterfinals to Spain’s two-time champ Brigit Yague. The Spaniard favorite, however, lost out in the medal round to the eventual champion from Chinese Taipei.

The RP campaign resumes Saturday with Olympic veterans Thsomlee Go and Mary Antoinette Rivero seeing action.

Go opens his bid in the tough 58-man field of the -58kg division, while Rivero competes in the women’s -67kg category that has 29 entries.

Alexander Briones, the fourth member of the RP squad sent by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Taekwondo Association, will compete on Sunday in the men’s -80kg division.

Alora immediately found herself trailing following a brief exchange of kicks. She evened up later on but the Swede finished the round holding a 2-1 lead.

With a seemingly simple fighting style, Sacj patiently waited for an opening to pad the advantage to 3-1, before Alora made it 3-2 with a turning kick late in the second round.

“After the second round, the gameplan was for her to score quick two points,” said Samson.

But the Swede connected on two more body blows for 5-2, before the Filipina delivered a point of her own with 20 seconds to go. Sacj, trying to preserve her lead, was then deducted one point after twice getting a warning for evading action.

Alora chased her all around the court as time expired.

source:
By Marc Anthony Reyes
Inquirer