SEA Games: Laila Delo loses taekwondo gold in heatbreaker

Laila Delo loses in a heatbreaker in the taekwondo competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Laila Delo suffered one of the most heart-wrenching defeats in taekwondo in the women’s under-67 kilograms final to salvage the silver medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Filipino jin dropped her gold medal bid after losing to Vietnam’s Thi Khiem Bac via golden point, 2-0.

Delo and Thi were locked in a 3-3 stalemate after the first three rounds sending the match to a testy final hit.

Both fighters eagerly looked for a body kick but it was the Vietnamese who landed her left foot down Delo’s guard.

Delo joined Arven Alcantara as the Filipino silver medalists in today’s taekwondo competition.