SEA Games: Gold medal still elusive for PH Olympian Kirstie Alora

PH’s Kirstie Alora settles for silver medal in the 2019 SEA Games Taekwondo event at Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Kirstie Alora suffered a gut-wrenching final defeat to fellow Olympian Sorn Seavmey via golden point, 12-9, in the women’s over-73 kilograms taekwondo of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Sunday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

After a tight 9-9 finish in the first three rounds, Alora and Seavmey found themselves searching for that vital golden strike and it was the taller Cambodian who found it.

The 6-foot Seavmey, who is six inches taller than Alora, used all her length and landed a head kick straight to the Filipino’s temple for the final three points.

Seavmey, the 2014 Asian Games gold medalist, captured her third straight SEA Games gold medal.

Alora, meanwhile, has yet to win a gold medal in her international career.