Pauline determined to kick way to Tokyo

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine taekwondo star Pauline Lopez’ determination to punch a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics doesn’t wane amid the uncertainties of the times.

Lopez, the 2016 Asian champion and two-time SEA Games queen, is confined to primarily indoor training in Subic due to the quarantine but is doing her best to train under the circumstances.

“Everything is uncertain but we have to continue training. Especially now we’re alone, all the more I need to find my focus and really push harder,” Lopez said in an interview on Radyo Pilipinas.

“It’s actually hard to get motivation when you’re alone but the thing I have in my head of course is my (Olympic) dream. Everything I do now will ultimately lead to my preparation for it,” she added.

The 23-year-old lady jin is bent on qualifying for Tokyo after coming tantalizingly close to a stint in Rio four years ago.

Lopez fell one win short in the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016 at home, where she absorbed a heartbreaking semis loss to Thai opponent Phannapa Harnsujin.

The former Asian Youth Games gold medalist looms as the country’s top prospect in the women’s 57kg class in the postponed Asian Qualification Tournament for the Tokyo Olympiad.

World Taekwondo is hoping to stage the pending Asian qualifiers to be hosted by Amman, Jordan later in the year.

Four slots in the male division (58kgs, 68kgs, 80kgs, and +80kgs), and another four in the female (49kgs, 57kgs, 67kgs, and +67kgs) will be disputed.

Pinoy jins need to win gold or silver to kick their way to Tokyo.