PARIS, France - It was a day for Asia on the second day of the Paris 2023 World Taekwondo Grand Prix as Uzbekistan, China and Iran won the three gold medals available.
PH jin Barbosa bows out after Korean tormentor loses mb.com.ph - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mb.com.ph Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Kurt Barbosa
KURT BARBOSA
Kurt Barbosa was a prime embodiment of the never-say-die mentality when he became the first Filipino jin to qualify for the Olympics since Tshomlee Go in Beijing 2008. Barbosa overcame a 15-point deficit with just over a minute left to upset the much taller home bet Zaid Alhalawani in the qualifying tournament in Jordan.
The 22-year-old pride of Bangeud, Abra will look to emerge as the country’s first Olympic medalist in the combat sport as he competes in the men’s -58 kg category.
The 2019 SEA Games gold winner will have his hands full against reigning world champion Jang Jun of South Korea and other top-ranked jins Vito Dell’Aquila of Italy and Jesús Tortosa of Spain.
Published July 19, 2021, 1:18 PM
Kurt Barbosa (second from right, seated) (MB Photo)
TOKYO Given his own way, taekwondo jin Kurt Bryan Barbosa of Bangued, Abra would probably be draining three-point shots today and then whooping, instead of delivering Olympic-qualifying double roundhouse kicks and then, well, whooping.
But then that was what his father, a stern-minded police officer in their town, wanted long time ago. And who’s to argue with such parental foresight since the eldest son is now stretched out on a Philippine Airlines business class reclining seat headed for the Tokyo Games?
“Gusto ko sana basketball, nahuhugot nga kami pag may mga laro e,” Barbosa said on arrival at Haneda Airport Sunday afternoon as he and two taekwondo coaches began the labyrinthine process of getting through health protocols, including downloading a tracking app and undergoing a saliva test, before exiting Japanese immigration and on to the Olympic Athletes Village some 30 minutes away