25-9-2023 (BEIJING) Patrick King Perez emerged as a shining star for Team Philippines at the 19th Asian Games, securing a well-earned bronze medal in the men’s individual poomsae. The 23-year-old taekwondo athlete’s remarkable performance was a source of pride for the Filipino contingent on the first full day of competition in Hangzhou, China.
Perez, a product of La Salle, demonstrated his best skills, defeating Souksavanh Chanthilath of Laos with a score of 7.700, followed by a victory over Prem Bahadur Limbu of Nepal with a score of 7.560. These wins paved his way to the medal round.
However, Perez’s journey met a challenging obstacle in Ma Yun Zhong of Taipei, who is ranked No. 2 in Asia and a gold medalist in the 2022 World Poomsae Championships. Ma achieved a score of 7.450 against Perez’s 6.910.
While Perez faced a formidable opponent in Ma, he couldn’t hide his joy at securing the bronze medal. He expressed his happiness and acknowledged that he had lost to a superior player. Patrick King Perez became the first among the 395 Filipino athletes to claim a medal in this edition of the Asian Games.
On the other hand, three-time SEA Games winner Jocel Lyn Ninobla did not fare as well and was eliminated in the women’s individual poomsae, losing to South Korea’s Kang Wanjin in the Round of 16. Another reigning SEA Games champion, Kurt Barbosa, was set to compete in the men’s -58kg category of men’s taekwondo.
Perez’s bronze medal was a welcome piece of news for Team Philippines, determined to outperform its previous performance in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, where the team clinched four gold, two silver, and 15 bronze medals.
“It’s a good start and a good sign,” noted Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, who was actively dividing his time to be with the athletes competing in various venues.
The competition was set to continue with more athletes gearing up for action, including young tennis sensation Alex Eala, who was set to face Sarah Ibrahim Khan of Pakistan in the main singles match at the Olympic Stadium.
The arrival of the men’s basketball team, called Gilas, added excitement to the atmosphere in Hangzhou. The entire country awaited their performance and the possibility of claiming gold, silver, or bronze.
Meanwhile, the Philippine boxing team displayed mixed results atop the ring. Aira Villegas (50kg) experienced a 3-1 loss to Mongolia’s Yesugen Oyuntsetseg, while Marc Ashley Fajardo (63.5kg) made a grand debut at the top Asian level by knocking out Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi.
Tokyo Olympian Irish Magno suffered a 5-0 defeat against Uzbekistan’s Nigina Ukmatova, and pro fighter and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial secured a 5-0 victory against Mongolia’s Dalai Ganzorig. Marcial, adjusting to his new weight class of 80kg, emphasized that he approached the match cautiously, aiming for a gold medal win.
In swimming, the women’s 4x100m relay team, comprised of Kayla Sanchez, Chloe Isleta, Teia Salvino, and Jasmine Alkhaldi, finished fifth in the final with a time of 3:44.31. Their efforts aimed to end a 25-year medal drought in the sport but fell short.
At the Xiaoshan Guali Sports Centre, Agatha Wong, a five-time SEA Games gold medalist in wushu, missed the podium. Despite her skills and lovely performance, she finished seventh in the Taijiquan final with a score of 9.720. At 25 years old, this Asian Games may be her last, and she will return home with a smile but without a medal.
