Philippines’ Sakura Alforte bags bronze in Asian Games karate

Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 – Karate – Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium KTE, Hangzhou, China – October 5, 2023 Bronze medallist Philippines’ Sakura Alforte poses during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Individual Kata REUTERS/Ann Wang

HANGZHOU, China—Sakura Alforte brought her act to the 19th Asian Games here and pocketed a bronze medal in the individual kata event of women’s karate.

The Southeast Asian Games champion got the approval of the judges, garnering 41.90 points in defeating Chien Hui Hsuan of Chinese Taipei (41.30) for a place at the medal podium.

Alforte, 21, almost flawlessly executed her Ohan Dai routine, pleasing nearly everybody at the packed Linping Sports Centre Gymnasium.

“I just feel happy right now. I worked and trained hard to be here and it bore fruit,’’ said Alforte, who placed third in the World Junior Championships last year in Konya, Turkey.

The Filipino-Japanese is fast becoming a household name in the continental scene starting with her bronze medal in the 2021 Asian championships in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

“This is one tournament I’m really looking forward to,’’ said Alforte, who qualified to the second round after kicking off her bid at third and compiling 40 points.

She ended up third among four competitors in the second round with 40.70 points, setting up Alforte in a collision course for third place against Chien.

Alforte’s bronze is the 10th for Team Philippines, which likewise bagged two golds from pole vaulter EJ Obiena and jiujitsu’s Meggie Ochoa plus a silver from sanda warrior Arnel Mandal.