Tough draw pits Barbosa vs tall Israeli

SINGAPORE – What he lacks in height, Kirk Barbosa hopes to make up with his quickness and skills as he goes up against a tall Israeli rival at the start of the taekwondo competitions in the Youth Olympic Games at the International Convention Center here tomorrow.

 Barely five feet tall, Barbosa will try to neutralize Gili Haimovitz’ advantage in height in a sport which requires speed and talent more than ceiling in what could be the 15-year-old RP bet’s toughest challenge in his young career.

“He can be easy to underestimate but he’s a tough fighter,” said Mark Joseph, chef de mission of the lean nine-man Philippine delegation in this inaugural staging of the event for athletes 14-18 years old which gets under way today.

 Joseph said Barbosa, a three-time national junior champion back home, has wound up his training and preparation for his big fight wherein a victory will assure the La Salle Greenhills bet a bronze medal in the -48kg division.

Only eight fighters made the grade in the lightest division in the tough qualifier, thus making the first round a virtual quarterfinal phase among the top junior jins in the world.

“He has a good chance but it will not be an easy fight,” said coach Kitoy Cruz, a many time champion in the SEA Games.

Joseph said Barbosa is all psyched up like the rest of the kids in the team with swimmer Jessie Lacuna and netter Jeson Patrombon also kicking off their respective bids at different venues at the start of the two-week long sportsfest featuring the world’s future sporting stars.

Lacuna, veteran of many international competitions, goes for a berth in the Sunday night’s finals in the 400m free at the Singapore Sports School.

Joseph, also the swim chief, hopes Lacuna to do well although he expects his ward to stamp his class in his favorite 200m free set Monday where he is seeded No. 7 in the world.

Patrombon, on the other hand, vies in one of the four singles matches in boys’ tennis at the Kallang Tennis Centre against a tough field that includes the top 12 junior netters in the world, who are all using this tournament as tune-up for the upcoming US Juniors Open.

Meanwhile, the 3-on-3 team of Jerome Teng, Michael Pate, Michael Tolomia and Bobby Ray Parks also gets to see action against Ivory Coast on Monday in a Group D clash at the Youth Space court 1.

Jasmin Alkhaldi, the other swimmer in the team, opens her campaign in the 100m free Monday where she hopes to progress to the semis also set Monday night.

The RP cagers take on Spain on Tuesday starting at 12:30 p.m. then face Croatia and South Africa on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

The top two teams in each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Patricia Llena, the country’s best bet for a medal in weightlifting, goes for it in the 63kg women final on Tuesday at the Toa Payoh Sports Hall.