Aventajado says judging a damper in taekwondo

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman and Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) president Robert Aventajado yesterday rued judging as a sore point in deciding the outcome of matches in the 24th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Nakhom Ratchasima.

Aventajado said he was surprised that the Philippines failed to bag a single gold medal on the first day of taekwondo competitions last Wednesday.

“Historically, we bring in four to five gold medals from taekwondo in the SEA Games,” said Aventajado. “In Manila two years ago, we won six gold medals. Our expectation is a minimum of four and a maximum of six gold medals in Thailand. But I’m not so sure now how we’ll end up. Judging has been a disappointment. Even our boxers and Muay Thai fighters are crying.”

Aventajado said Beijing Olympic qualifier Toni Rivero’s 5-4 loss to Cassandra Haller of Thailand in the 67-kilogram finals was a heartbreaker.

“From reports, I was told the African corner referee was a little too quick in pushing the scoring button for the Thai,” said Aventajado. “We were hoping to end it at 5-all then go for sudden death. I suggested that if we felt strongly we were robbed, we should file a protest. We’re satisfied with our performance but we’re not satisfied with the judging.”

Aventajado said the Filipino jins went to Thailand well-prepared for action. “We follow a program of training and we don’t stray from our direction,” he continued. “We’re as prepared now as we were in Manila. That’s our tradition in taekwondo. When we compete, we always go out to do our best.”

The last four gold medals of a total of 16 at stake – eight apiece for men and women – in taekwondo are up for grabs today.

Aventajado arrived from attending the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Vietnam last weekend and would’ve joined the Philippine delegation in Thailand the other day but cancelled at the last minute.

“I was advised to rest,” said Aventajado. “My blood pressure was going up and down. But I’m fine now. I’m closely monitoring our performance in Thailand from home and the office. I’m certainly not missing the squabbling that’s going on among our officials over there.”

Aventajado’s consolation is taekwondo is insulated from the political bickering that has strained the relations of certain officials from the POC, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and National Sports Associations (NSAs).

“That’s the reward for our independence,” said Aventajado. “We don’t rely solely on the PSC for our funding. We try to have good relations with everyone all around for the benefit of our sport. Luckily, we’re not affected by politics.”

In the last SEA Games, the Filipino jins who hit paydirt were Rivero, Beijing Olympic qualifier Tshomlee Go, Esther Marie Singson, Donnie Geisler, Kristie Elaine Alora and John Paul Lizardo.

The 16-strong Philippine taekwondo team in Thailand is made up of Rivero, Go, Alora and her sister Kathleen Eunice, Lizardo, Singson, Michael Alejandrino, Alex Briones, Jeffrey Figueroa, Ernesto Mendoza, Carlos Padilla, Manuel Rivero, Katherine Bunyi, Loralie Catalan, Veronica Domingo and Criselda Roxas.

On the first day of hostilities, the Filipino jins collected two silvers from Toni Rivero and Briones and two bronzes from Mendoza and Roxas. Alejandrino and Bunyi were eliminated in their opening bouts.