SEA Games 2023: Kirstie Elaine Alora caps gold rush for PH taekwondo jins

FILE–Veteran taekwondo jin Kirstie Elaine Alora. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

PHNOM PENH—Kirstie Elaine Alora punctuated a productive evening for Filipino taekwondo jins by trouncing Thi Huong Nguyen in their gold-medal face-off on Saturday at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

The 2019 Rio De Janeiro Olympian snatched victory from her Vietnamese foe in the women’s under 73kg, Alora’s fourth SEA Games gold medal.

“It was a difficult match and I’m blessed to still win after all the sacrifices that I’ve been through,’’ said Alora, whose journey in the regional sportsfest began with a triumphant campaign in the 2005 Games hosted by the Philippines.

Back then, the two-time Asian Games bronze medalist was entered in the 59kg class before striking fear on his rivals in the 73kg division.

“As long as my body allows me, I will continue to compete for our country,’’ said the 33-year-old Alora, whose vast collection of medal included five silvers in the SEA Games and a pair of third-place performances in the Asian championships.

Her gold is the fourth for the country in the sport on Saturday, after Kurt Barbosa, Alven Alcantara and Samuel Morrison sustained the gold rush.

The Philippine taekwondo team hiked its haul to six gold medals, including two from poomsae.