By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Philippine taekwondo squad is so far the most productive team for the country in the ongoing as the 32nd Southeast Asian Games enters the final stretch of competition here.
Filipino taekwondo jins have so far amassed six gold, one silver and four bronze medals in just two days of competition, with four athletes winning late Saturday, May 13, and anchoring Team PH’s 6-gold medal haul.
Those four were Kurt Barbosa, Arven Alcantara, Samuel Morrison and Elaine Alora
Kurt Barbosa set the tone for the Nationals after it dominated Thailand’s Ramnarong Saweekwiharee in the men’s -54kg, 2-0, before Alcantara followed suit with a 2-1 win over another Thai foe in Chaichon Cho, 2-1, in the men’s -68kg.
Then it was Morrison’s turn to shine, ruling the men’s -87kg with a 2-1 triumph over Indonesian Nicholas Armanto before Alora sealed the day with a 2-1 win over Vietnamese Thi Huong Nguyen in the women’s -73kg.
The other two golds came from its poomsae athletes courtesy of Aidaine Laxa, Nicole Labayne and Jocel Lyn Ninobla in the women’s recognized trio, and Patrick Perez in the men’s recognized individual.
Taekwondo can still collect more golds with three more athletes set to battle Monday, May 15.
Gymnastics, athletics and obstacle course race squads, meanwhile, capped off their campaign with four gold medals apiece while soft tennis and triathlon/aquathlon/duathlon contributed three golds apiece.
As of 1 p.m., PH team has reaped 37 gold, 65 silver and 77 bronze medals to remain at sixth place with three days of competition left.
But more athletes are still scheduled to play that include judokas, kickboxers, wrestlers, weightlifters and arnis artists.
