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Asian Games: Hunt for elusive, achievable gold still on for PH taekwondo team

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/14/20180814_taekwondo_6684.jpg"/><figcaption>Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Arven Alcantara suits up for sparring. Helping him out is Asian Games veteran Sam Morrison (left). George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>The Philippine national taekwondo team’s training for the 2018 Asian Games reached its peak more than a week before competitions kick off in Indonesia. The fighters hope that all the hard work they went through pays off.The team trained almost nonstop this year, but it started intensive, 3-times-a-day training three months out before the Games.“In the morning it’s strength and conditioning, running,” said Olympian Kirstie Elaine Alora, a two-time Asian Games bronze medalist. “Sa tanghali more on technique-wise, stamina kicks, non-stop drills. Sa gabi po sparring and techniques. Tapos pine-perfect po namin ang drills na pinapagawa sa amin.”Alora will compete in the women&#x27;s heavyweight division.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/14/20180814_taekwondo_6715.jpg"/><figcaption>Asian Games veteran Pauline Lopez (right) having a light moment with a teammate. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>They brought in South Korean mentor Tae Sang Lee who assisted national coaches Dindo Simpao and Japoy Lizardo in preparing the kyorugi team for the tough challenges ahead.Arven Alcantara, who won silver in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games -68 kg kyorugi (sparring), said the new coach was a big help polishing their skills and weeding out bad habits.“Laking tulong ng Korean coach sa disiplina. Pati ’yung stamina namin tinaas n’ya. ’Yung mga bad habits namin before na dahilan kung bakit kami natatalo sa games, tinatanggal niya. In-adjust niyang lahat,” said the 22-year-old jin from Surigao del Sur.Some of the national team members are saddled with injuries though. Two-time SEA Games gold medalist Samuel Morrison is nursing an ankle injury, while fellow gold medalist Pauline Lopez is recuperating from a hurting knee. Heavyweight fighter Kristopher Uy training despite a pulled hamstring.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/14/20180814_taekwondo_6587.jpg"/><figcaption>Coach Dindo Simpao talks to the members of the national team and their sparring partners. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>But Philippine taekwondo training director Igor Mella said the team carries on with its training and sparring because this is where the psychological side of the sport is tested.“Alam mo naman pag nag-three times a day training ka na, nasasagad ang katawan. Pero ’pag nasasagad ang katawan, ang pinalalakas natin d’yan ’yung isip e. That&#x27;s the key,” he explained.“’Pag ’yung katawan mo umabot na sa limit, and you are being pushed, ’yung isip ang pinalalakas d’yan. ’Yun ang importante sa game.”Lopez, who will be making her third appearance in the Asian Games, echoed his sentiments. The 2015 SEA Games gold medalist said injury will always be part of training.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/14/20180814_taekwondo_6931.jpg"/><figcaption>Filipino Olympian Kirstie Alora (left) during sparring. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>“That’s the mental part of training. Injury is part of it. What are you going to do when you’re injured? I have to consciously have to know how to kick even when hurt, how I’m going to fight. That’s the mental side of it,” Lopez, who will compete as a featherweight, said.Like Lopez, Morrison will be competing in his third Asian Games.It could be his last hurrah following his bronze medal win in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014, Morrison said. So he plans to go all out this time.“Nilalagay ko sa positive ang thinking. Na kaya ko at kelangan tapusin ang nasimulan,” he said.The Philippines has yet to win a gold in taekwondo in the Asian Games. The last time the country won a silver was when Tshomlee Go placed second in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha. In Incheon, the Filipinos secured five bronze medals.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/08/14/20180814_taekwondo_6908.jpg"/><figcaption>Kristopher Uy gets instructions from South Korean coach Tae Sang Lee. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Head coach Dindo Simpao said his team hopes to make a breakthrough this year.“Our target is always to do more than we did last time,” he said.“It&#x27;s within our reach, the gold medal. Sa Asian Games, the best players are there, pero kayang mag-breakthrough mga players natin.”Other Filipino jins included in the Asian Games kyorugi lineup are Jenar Torillos (flyweight), Francis Agojo (flyweight), Rhezie Aragon (women&#x27;s bantamweight) and Darlene Arpon (women&#x27;s welterweight).Dustin Mella, Jeordan Dominguez, Rodolfo Reyes Jr., Janna Oliva, Baby Cabanal, Jocel Ninobla and Rinna Babanto will make up the Philippine poomsae squad.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Participants in the kyorugi event hope that all the hard work they went through pays off.

Participants in the kyorugi event hope that all the hard work they went through pays off.

Asian Games: Hunt for elusive, achievable gold still on for PH taekwondo team

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Asian Games: Hunt for elusive, achievable gold still on for PH taekwondo team

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 14, 2018 05:29 PM PHT

|

Updated August 14, 2018 05:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Asian Games

Philippine National Taekwondo Team

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