MANILA, Philippines – Hindi hadlang para kay karatedo champion Jamie Lim ang maiksing panahong ginugol niya sa ensayo upang masungkit ang matamis na gintong medalya sa karatedo competition ng 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Apat na taong tumigil si Lim, anak ng dating PBA Legend Samboy “Skywalker” Lim, sa karate para pagtuunan ang kanyang pag-aaral na nagbunga ng kanyang pagtatapos na summa cum laude sa University of the Philippines sa kursong BS Mathematics.
“It meant so much, I mean I took the chance because I stopped for awhile, four years no karate, and I thought SEA Games 2019 in the Philippines is perfect to come back. Parang I delivered it, so that’s what I wanted all these times, for five months, gold, and I got it. I’m super happy,” pahayag ni Lim na limang buwan lang nakapag-training.
Pinabagsak ng 5-foot-8 na si Lim si Ceyco Zefanya ng Indonesia, 2-1 sa finals ng women’s +61kg kumite ng karate para sa gold medal.
“Going back to training after four years is super hard, mga kalaban ko po dito is full time athletes and they never stopped, so the struggle, lalo na sa start, you feel na you are not good as before or you feel the competition is so much harder,” ani Lim.
Hinigitan ng indivi-dual gold ni Lim ang team gold ng amang si Samboy na bahagi ng Phl basketball squad na nanalo noong 1985 SEA Games men’s basketball.