SEA Games: Kurt Barbosa brings in another taekwondo gold for PH

Taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa wins another gold for the Philippines in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. Photo by MArk Giongco

MANILA, Philippines — Comfortably ahead, Kurt Barbosa flashed a big grin when he was shown on the LED screen during a break in between the first and second rounds.

His huge smile quickly turned into a pout as he struggled to hold back his tears after delivering a gold medal in dazzling fashion in the 30th Southeast Asian Games taekwondo competitions Monday.

The 20-year-old Barbosa won the gold medal in his maiden SEA Games stint after dominating Indonesia’s Reinaldy Atmanegara, 26-10, men’s -54kg (fin) final at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Filipino jins, however, failed to add one more gold medal to end their campaign after Rheza Aragon suffered a 35-2 blowout at the hands of Thailand‘s Panipak Wongpattanakit in the women’s 49kg flyweight final.

The Philippine taekwondo team finished with eight gold, nine silver and four bronze medals.