Sacrifices and hard work reap fruits for RP jins
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Dec 2009
The Philippine taekwondo team?s four-gold medal production was just what national coach Ricky Samson expected.
?We sent only 10 athletes so I told myself I would be happy to win four gold medals,? Samson said Sunday by way of assessing his jins? impressive performance in their sport where two-time Olympians Tsomlee Go and Mary Antoinette Rivero and teammates came up with a 4-4-4 gold-silver-bronze medal harvest to become the winningest team in the 251-athlete national contingent.
Samson quickly added though that they could have produced more had luck went their way in terms of officiating.
?We could have brought home a pair of gold medals more sana, pero okay na din. Winning four gold medals is already a big achievement,? said Samson.
Led by Go and Rivero, the national jins turned the biennial meet into their own show as the charming troika of Camille Alarilla, Rannie Ortega and Janice Lagman opened the Nationals' campaign by stashing away with the gold medal in the women?s poomsae team competition.
Then, heavyweight Alexander Briones, lady welterweight Rivero and featherweight Go followed suit, dominating their respective events in the sparring side of the competition to surpass their predecessor?s dismal lone gold-medal show in the last edition of the biennial conclave two years ago in Thailand.
Japoy Lizardo (flyweight) and Eunice Alora (bantamweight) could have also snared the gold had judgement calls not intervened. Jeffrey Figueroa, who won the gold medal in the bantamweight class of the Asian Martial Arts Games few months back, also was potential gold medal but was ranged with Vietnam and Thailand early on.
It was a matter of the team members and the coaching staff working hard together, Samson said.
?While we really expected a fruitful campaign, it was borne out by our united belief that performance is more important than winning a medal. We?re playing in a subjective sport so we know that the medal will just be a bonus. What is important is our performance."
? Those victories came as rewards for our athletes sacrifices and hard work,? he said.
(Eddie Alinea's articles also appear in the PHILIPPINE GAZETTE)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FROM TODAY'S CHM: 2 REMATCH SEASON CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Donaire to fight Tsutsumi on December 17 in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Nesthy faces Indon legend
By Joaquin Henson, Sat, 13 Dec 2025Bob Santos Joins Broadcast Team for Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During WBA’s 104th Annual Convention
Sat, 13 Dec 2025Championship Bouts Set for the Bantam and Intermediate Division
Sat, 13 Dec 2025SEAG Triathlon, aquathlon, duathlon in Rayong
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Dec 2025