Jins hold own vs world best

DOHA — Accounting for all but one of the country’s six medals heading into the last five days of the Asian Games here, taekwondo has so far been the most prolific national sports association among the 15 of the 31 NSAs that have seen action here.

In fact, this has been the sport’s most productive stint in any Asiad, according to Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado, who lauded the RP jins’ determined bid despite mixing it up with the world’s best and near-misses for medal rounds in other bouts.

"As far as I can recall, this is our best showing in the Asiad," said Aventajado, citing the silver medal feats over the weekend by Athens Olympiad veterans Marie Antoinette Rivero (67kg) and Tshomlee Go (62kg).

"We won five bronze medals in Busan and two silvers in the past Asian Games," said Aventajado. "But this year, we won two silvers and three bronze medals." Rivero and Go anchored that fine showing with those silver medals after both lost to superior Korean rivals in the finals. The 18-year-old Rivero bowed to Hwang Kyugn seon, 1-6, while Go, 25, took a 1-4 setback at the hands of Kim Ju Young.

Failing to get cracks at the gold and settling for the three bronze medals were Kathleen Eunice (47kg), Veronica Domingo (63kg) and Manuel Rivero Jr. (67kg). The Filipino jins competed in 12 events with John Paul Lizardo (54kg), Kirstie Alora (59kg), Criselda Roxas (72kg), Alexander Briones (78kg) losing in the quarters, and Ernesto Mendoza III (78kg), Lorelie Catalan (51) and Geisler (72kg) bowing in the second round.

"The level of competition here is world class because the taekwondo world powers are in Asia," said Aventajado.

So do in other sports. But although boxing has assured the country of three bronze medals and one silver and hopes are high in wushu and billiards, taekwondo has re-established itself as one of the country’s sources of pride in the international sporting arena.

Rivero, Go and company, meantime, arrives home at 1:30 p.m. (Manila time) aboard QR 646 with those two silvers and three bronze medals and hopes for a breakthrough campaign in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

"This has been a good tune-up game for Beijing for some of our jins," said Aventajado. And inspiration to other NSAs.