Philippines’ Kirstie Elaine Alora (L) competes against Mexico’s Maria del Rosario Espinoza Espinoza during their womens taekwondo qualifying bout in the +67kg category as part of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, on August 20, 2016, at the Carioca Arena 3, in Rio de Janeiro. / AFP PHOTO / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV
Taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora, who at age 14 won her first of three Southeast Asian Games golds, will carry the flag for Team Philippines in the Kuala Lumpur edition on Aug. 19 to 31.
A Rio Olympics veteran, the 27-year-old Alora reportedly won the honor over four-time World Cup bowling champion and Hall of Famer Paeng Nepomuceno and basketball star Kobe Paras.
“I didn’t expect it at all, but I’m very thankful and will strive to perform well by training extra hard,” said Alora, who is also two-time bronze medalist in the Asian Games (2010 and 2014) and Asian Championships (2014 and 2016). —MARC REYES