Rivero bucks tall odds for RP’s 1st silver

DOHA — Ranged against a taller, more experienced fighter, Olympian Mary Antoinette Rivero didn’t flinch but just couldn’t clinch the coveted gold medal for Team Philippines in the Asian Games here.

She lost the fight alright, but for Filipino fans and supporters at the Qatar Sports Club Indoor Hall Friday night, Rivero re-emerged as a hero when she delivered the first silver medal for the country in the welterweight division of taekwondo.

"I am honored that I had the chance for the gold but I didn’t get it," said the 18-year-old Rivero after dropping a 1-6 setback to Korean Hwang Kyung Seon in the final of the 67kg division.

Hwang, who reached the final by putting away rivals via 6-0 and 4-0 routs in her early matches, was simply awesome, particularly in the third round, when leading, 2-1, scored four hits en route to the victory.

"I tried my best. She’s tall and I tried my best to outdo her," said Rivero. "But her height advantage, experience and reach carried her through most of the fight."

Rivero, a lightweight champion in the Manila SEA Games last year, used grit and spunk, not to mention talent, to advance to the championship round.

Against Liya Nurkina in the quarters, Rivero, a veteran of Athens Olympics at 16, leaned on her experience to negate the Kazakh advantage in height, rallying with two hits in the third round to hack out a 2-1 victory.

"We tried to find a way of defeating her (Nurkina) because of her height advantage. But fortunately, my experience prevailed in the match," said Rivero.

To gain a crack at the gold medal, Rivero only have to re-assert her supremacy over a Vietnamese rival whom she has disposed of in the SEA Games.

She did just that.

Coming away with a hit in each round, Rivero kicked her way to a 3-0 victory over Thu Hien Bui and set up a clash with the Korean ace.

"I met her (Bui) in the SEA Games and I beat her there," said Rivero. "So, more or less, I knew her techniques."

But Hwang proved more skilful, too methodical in her attack and counterattack that the Filipina bet had no answer for.

"I just wish other Filipino players can win the gold," said Rivero, who stands to receive incentives worth P800,000 for her silver medal feat. "We will pray and support them." — Dante Navarro