Highly regarded Filipino taekwondo jins get going

INCHEON, South Korea—As the 17th Asian Games prepares to flip the calendar to the next month, the Philippine mission of tabbing a gold medal in the quadrennial meet is fast running out of days—and bets.

On Tuesday, one of the last teams touted to chalk up medals for the country kicks off its campaign when the taekwondo squad sends four fighters in the spotlight at Ganghwa Dolmens gymnasium here.

An optimistic Samuel Morrison, who was a quarterfinalist four years ago in Guangzhou, takes on Yerzhan Abyylkas of Kazakhstan in the -74 kg class.

“Chances for gold is high,” said the 24-year-old Morrison. “But I won’t take my foe lightly because everyone prepared hard for this event.”

Morrison needs two victories to assure the team of a bronze medal. Kristopher Robert Uy also opens his bid in the -87 kg class against Hao Chao of Macau.

A victory by Uy sets him up for a quarterfinal duel against China’s Chen Linglong, who drew a first-round bye.

Asian Juniors silver medalist Nicole Abigail Cham takes on Sarita Phongsri of Thailand in the women’s -53 kg class. Cham was a replacement for SEA Games champion Jade Zafra.

Levita Ronna Ilao Doan battles Thin Huong Giang of Vietnam in the women’s -49 kg.

Taekwondo has been a solid medal performer for the Philippines but it hasn’t won a gold yet in the Asiad.