MANILA, Philippines — Maganda ang naging resulta ng sakripisyo ni national taekwondo jin Kurt Barbosa sa gitna ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Inangkin ng 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist ang tiket sa 2021 Olympic Games matapos manalo sa semifinal round ng men’s -58 kilogram division sa Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa Amman, Jordan.
“Qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics means that despite everything that’s happening to us, all the struggles, hindrances and problems, we don’t give up in chasing our dreams,” ani Barbosa.
Ang dalawang finalists sa bawat weight category ang awtomatikong maglalaro sa 2021 Olympics na nakatakda sa Hulyo 23 hanggang Agosto 8 sa Tokyo, Japan.
Pumasok ang mga national taekwondo jins sa bubble training sa Inspire Sports Academy sa Calamba, Laguna simula noong Enero bago sumabak sa Olympic qualifying sa Jordan.
“We remain resilient, and focus on the things that we want,” wika ni Barbosa. “Despite the odds, we manage to move forward every time and believe in ourselves that we can.”
Ang 22-anyos na si Barbosa ang naging pang-siyam na Pinoy Olympic qualifier matapos sina 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics silver medalist at weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, gymnast Carlos Yulo, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, rower Cris Nievarez at boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio at Carlo Paalam.