Jayson Macaalay crashes out of karate Olympic qualifiers
Philippines’ Jayson Macaalay vs Azerbaijan’s Firdovsi Farzaliyev. WORLD KARATE SCREENGRAB
MANILA, Philippines—Jayson Macaalay’s Tokyo hopes have been dashed after he lost to Azerbaijan’s Firdovsi Farzaliyev, 1-0, in the Round of 32 of the Kumite Male -67 kg division in the Karate World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Paris Friday.
It was a disappointing run for Macaalay, who lasted just two matches in Paris.
Article continues after this advertisementJayson Macaalay defeats Omar Laattar of the Netherlands, 2-0, to advance to the Round of 32 in the Kumite Male -67kg division of the 2021 Karate World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Paris. | @BLozadaINQ pic.twitter.com/NiFRcE4eBZ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) June 11, 2021
Macaalay, a bronze medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, had a strong start in tournament, dispatching Omar Laattar of the Netherlands 2-0.
Farzaliyev, however, got the upper hand in the exchanges securing that vital point late in the match.
Junna Tsukii, Jamie Lim, Joane Orbon, Ivan Agustin, Shariff Afif, Alwyn Batican, John Enrico Vasquez, and Sarah Pangilinan are still vying for Olympic spots and they need to secure a podium finish in Paris to qualify for Tokyo.
