Against 2008 Olympic champ, Pinay jin to give her best

MANILA, Philippines – Kirstie Elaine Alora, the country’s lone entry in the taekwondo competitions of the Rio Olympics, joined a small Philippine delegation last night in a tedious 25-hour flight to Rio de Janeiro via Dubai.

On board the Emirates jumbo jet, the 26-year-old Alora will have a lot of things running through her mind.

She gets to Rio way ahead of the Aug. 5 opening ceremony, and even farther ahead of her day of competition on Aug. 20.

Alora is in her first Olympics. And for her opening match in the +67 kg division, she will be pitted against the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist from Mexico.

Her name is Maria Espinoza.

Alora knows the Mexican pretty well, and that sometime after the Beijing Olympics they squared off in a tournament in China. The Pinay jin dropped the match, 2-1.

On Aug. 20, at the Carioca Arena 3 of the Barra Olympic Park, Alora gets another crack at Espinoza. 

“I will be fighting the number one in my category,” she said.

The two-time bronze medalist in the Asian Games is unfazed with the fact that she’s facing the 28-year-old Espinoza in her Olympic debut.

From the Beijing Olympics, Espinoza returned to the 2012 Summer Games in London as the Mexican flag-bearer. She won the bronze.

In short, Alora will be up against a two-time Olympic medalist in her  Olympic debut.

“Unang laban ko bakbakan na agad (My first match will be a battle),” said Alora, who made it to Rio with a silver medal finish in the Asian Olympic Games Qualification last April at the Marriott Convention Center in Pasay City.

Espinoza’s shining credentials will not deter Alora in her bid to move on to the succeeding rounds. The finals of the +67 class is set 10 p.m. in Rio (around 10 a.m. in Manila)

“Kaya naman po (I can handle it),” she said.

The 5-foot-8 Mexican is just an inch taller than Alora, who has fought bigger opponents in the past, and is used to going up against her male counterparts in the Philippine team.

“Yung height niya hindi ganun kalaki ang advantage,” said Alora.

The taller opponents, she said, landed in the other side of the draw, and if Alora advances, she gets to meet them heading to the medal round.

“It’s better for me. I have more chances,” said Alora.

“I’m ready,” she said.