Alora bows out in tears

RIO DE JANEIRO – Denied of a medal finish in taekwondo, the Philippines will have to settle for just one medal, a shining silver courtesy of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, in this Rio Olympics.

The Philippines came close to surpassing its best medal haul in the Summer Games of three bronze medals in 1932 in Los Angeles. But on its last shot at a medal Saturday, it fell short.

Kirstie Elaine Alora blew her chances to make history for the country when she lost her matches against a Mexican and a Moroccan at Carioca 3 of the Olympic Park Saturday.

Alora gave her best, as promised, but still bowed to two-time Olympic medalist Maria Espinoza of Mexico. In the repechage round, she couldn’t hold on against Wiam Dislam of Morocco.

Against Espinoza, gold winner in Beijing in 2008 and bronze winner in London in 2012, the Filipina had great difficulty catching her opponent and landing scoring blows.

Then in the repechage, where she needed two victories to salvage the bronze, she almost brought down the taller Moroccan. With just 20 seconds left, Alora was still leading 5-4.

Dislam, flag-bearer of the Moroccan delegation in 2012 in London, equalized, and in the blink of an eye, connected twice more to go up, 7-5. A final kick to head by Alora did not score.

Alora shed tears after the match.

“Another sad moment,” Alora said, knowing that a medal in taekwondo would have given the country hungry for Olympic medals more reason to celebrate.

The Philippine delegation here in Rio, or whatever is left of it, came to watch Alora fight, including her parents, who flew from Alaska, and her sister, from Manila.

They had hoped for Alora to deliver any medal on the penultimate day of action in this Games that had every bit of controversy months before it started and just days before it came to a close.

Athletes and officials from the competing nations, which totalled close to 16,000 at its peak, will march at the Maracana Stadium Sunday evening for the closing ceremony.

The Philippines will close the book to its campaign here with the silver medal which Diaz won in the women’s 53 kg class last Aug. 7.

Others tried but failed, from Ian Lariba of table tennis to swimmers Jessie Khing Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi; weightlifter Nestor Colonia to boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez; judoka Kodo Nakano; golfer Miguel Tabuena to Mary Joy Tabal, Marestella Torres Sunang to Eric Cray of athletics.

Sports officials, of course, had hoped for more, but winning a silver, when winning a bronze in the Olympics is tough enough, is considered a gift.

“It was a good historic run. Our gallant 13 athletes have made our country proud. All went fighting and doing everything they can and they are the best we have,” said chef-de-mission Jose Romasanta.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco rallied behind each athlete, and should be happy with the result even he had prayed for more.

“Our athletes gave their best. What more can you ask?” he said.