HANGZHOU, China — Jamie Lim bombed out early to wrap up her short, forgettable stint in the karate competition of the 19th Asian Games here.
The 26-year-old two-time Southeast Asian Games champion bowed to Assel Kanay of Kazakhstan via points in the quarterfinals of the women’s 61-kilogram kumite event on Friday at the Limping Sports Centre here.
It was a sorry loss for Lim — the daughter of basketball legend Samboy Lim — as it came at the heels of her impressive victory over Zulkhumor Tursunalieva of Uzbekistan in the Round of 16.
It was also a major blow to the national karatekas, who failed to sustain the momentum brought by the bronze medal performance of Sakura Alforte in the women’s individual kata on Thursday. Also falling by the wayside was Alwyn Batican, who lost to Ignatius Joshua Kantou of Indonesia in the repechage of the men’s 75-kg kumite; and John Christian Lachica, who bowed to Ari Saputra of Indonesia in the quarterfinals of the men’s 60-kg kumite.
The Filipino karatekas, however, still have a chance as JM Manantan is set to compete in the men’s 67-kg kumite while Arianne Isabel Brito is scheduled to see action in the women’s 68-kg kumite on Saturday.
Another former SEA Games champion in Junna Tsukii will also slug it out in the women’s 50-kg kumite on Sunday to wrap up Team Philippines’ participation in this prestigious quadrennial event.
