Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 17) – The Philippines won two medals in the first day of the #SEAGames31 taekwondo kyorugi competitions on Tuesday at the Tay Ho Gymnasium in Vietnam.
Tokyo Olympian Kurt Barbosa won his second straight gold medal in the men’s -54kg division after beating Thailand’s Panachai Jaijulla, 16-7, in the finals.
Barbosa earlier defeated hometown bet Ngoc Lam Duong (31-10) in the quarterfinals and Indonesia’s Reinaldy Atmanegara in an exciting semifinal match, 44-42.
Laila Delo also clinched a medal with a bronze in the women’s -67kg division after losing to Indonesian foe Silvana Lamanda in the semifinals.
Two other Filipino taekwondo jins competed on Tuesday but failed to land a podium finish.
Arven Alcantara lost a close 21-22 decision against Malaysia’s Ahmad Nor Iman Hakim Rakib in the men’s -68kg quarterfinals, while Sharifa Vianca Dela Cruz was dominated by eventual gold medalist and hometown bet Thi Kim Tuyen Truong with a 7-27 score in the women’s -46kg quarterfinals.
