Kirstie Elaine Alora hopes to wave the Philippine flag once again in the Olympics. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Kirstie Elaine Alora is gearing up for a medal finish in the coming Asian Games and possibly another Olympic stint next year.
The 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympian still has the goods after claiming a gold medal at the 2023 Chuncheon Korea Open International Taekwondo Championships on Sunday.
Alora, a four-time Southeast Asian Games champion who twice seized a bronze medal in the Asian Games, ruled the senior women +73kg division by nipping Jung Sugee, 2-0, in the latter’s hometown.
The 33-year-old middleweight, seeded fifth among 16 jins in her class, subdued Yoon Do Hee of the host country, 2-1, prior to pulling off a 2-1 upset over top seed Reba Stewart of Australia in the semifinals.
Baby Jessica Canabal also climbs the podium following a silver performance in the women’s -53kg category.
Lee Jachee of Korea downed the fifth-seeded Canabal, 2-0, in their finale, ending what could have been a stunning title ride for the Filipino jin.
After an opening-round bye, Canabal toppled Aidana Sundetbay of Kazakhstan, 2-0, defeating another Kazakh in Aziza Karajanova, 2-1, and tripped Vu Thing Dun of Vietnam, 2-1, to set up the gold-medal clash with Lee.
The annual tournament features the finest jins in the continent with Filipinos Justin Mark Agno, Samuel Morrison, Dave Cea, Kent John Banzon, Clarence Sarza, Sturdy Gilbuena faltering in their medal bid.
Also failing to climb the podium in their weight divisions were Nicole Ann McCann, Ryshel Ramirez, Veronica Garces, Jubilee Briones, Dex Ian Chavez, Joseph Chua and Laila Delo.
After clinching the gold in the recent Cambodia SEA Games, Alora is a shoo-in for the team in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Sept. 23-Oct. 8.
The Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament for the Paris Olympics is set March 15-16 in Tai’an, China where Alora will be entered in the women’s +67kg.