Swan song for five-time SEAG judo champion

BUSAN–John Baylon, the king of Philippine judo, is singing his last song in the Asian Games.

"Last na ito," said the five-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist yesterday as he prepared to leave the athletes’ village for a morning practice with the other members of the RP judo team.

Baylon, at 37 still bouncing with the physique and energy of a high school track star, is competing in his fourth Asian Games, this time as a light middleweight.

Once again, he hopes to do his best and, probably for the first time, reach the medal rounds of this event which drew a total of 11,000 athletes from 43 countries.

"Malas lang dati talaga sa pairing at minsan, first round pa lang ay natatapat na sa gold medallist. Sa mabigat agad nalalaban," said the aspiring member of the Philippine Air Force Special Action Force.

"Sana matanggap para alam mo na…," he said, looking forward to an early retirement plan.

Baylon won the SEA Games gold in ’91, ’93, ’95, ’97 and 2001, making him the most bemedalled Filipino judoka in the international arena. He also won a bronze in the ’93 Asian Championships and has seen action in two World Championships (’93 and ’95).

Baylon came closest to an Asian Games medal 12 years ago in Beijing but fell short against a Chinese-Taipei opponent.

"I was about to lock him up but the referee ordered a break. Hindi naman dapat," he said, clenching his fists with almost all his fingers heavily taped.

Reminded of his age, Baylon said it’s the experience, plus the technique, that really counts in judo, adding that some of the world’s best are just the same age, some of them even in the 40s.

"Dito sa judo, gulang ang kailangan mo. Experience at technique? Bihira sa mga bata ‘yan. Hindi ito katulad ng boxing na may age factor. Sa amin, mas matanda, mas magulang," he added.

He looks at opponents from Japan, Korea, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan as the best in this Asian Games. — Abac Cordero