HANGZHOU, China — If fortunate enough, taekwondo could be the first team from Team Philippine to deliver a medal in the 19th Asian Games here.
Seeing action first for the “Deadly Dozen” are poomsae bets in Southeast Games champion King Patrick Perez and Jocel Lyn Ninobla.
For one, Perez is ranked No. 4 in his category while Ninobla is slightly favored to advance to the next round.
“They’re both ready,” taekwondo official Rocky Samson.
The taekwondo jins are hoping to conjure the magic of 2006 that saw the Filipino bets win two silver and three bronze medals.
“It’s hard but we will try our best,” added the amiable official.
“That’s our challenge.”
The Doha edition was the country’s most productive stint so far since the inception of the popular Korean sport in the quadrennial event in the 1986 Seoul edition.
Olympian champion Kurt Bryan Barbosa, meantime, will banner free sparring team along with multi-titled Samuel Morrison and Kirstie Elaine Alora.
