Beauty turns beast, strikes record third straight gold

After a not-so-impressive showing on the first day, the spunky Filipino karatekas readily bounced back by hauling two gold and four bronze medals in the SEA Games karatedo event yesterday at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

But with one more day to go and six gold medals left to be contested, RP’s target of collecting seven golds in karatedo looks dim.

Beauty queen-turned karateka Gretchen Malalad collared her third consecutive gold medal, becoming the first ever Filipino athlete to accomplish such feat in the sport since the Philippines started competing in the biennial sports conclave in 1977.

The landmark triumph wasn’t served on a silver platter as the 25-year-old Malalad had to go through a one-minute extension before dispatching Malaysia’s Jamalliah BT Jamalludin, 2-1, in the thrilling finals of the women’s individual kumite +60 kgs. category.

A telling right reverse punch to the body was all Malalad needed to write herself in the annals of Philippine sports and vindicate herself after their unceremonious exit in the women’s team kumite the other day.

"I’m so very, very happy for this historic feat. It’s fulfilling to see that all the sacrifices we’ve made finally paid off," said Malalad, a former Binibing Pilipinas candidate.

"For me this victory is truly a blessing and it’s worth all the trials and hardships," added Malalad, who bids for another gold in today’s individual kumite open weight category.

It was a fitting farewell for Malalad, who is making her final appearance as a competitor in the 11-nation meet.

Malalad, who won her previous two golds in the 2001 Malaysia and 2003 Vietnam SEA Games, said the presence of her parents Peter and Maricel, who flew all the way from Quezon to cheer for her, was an added source of strength and inspiration for her to strive for glory.

"I’m so proud of the achievement of my daughter. In fact, I was sleepless the past two nights. Before the match, I felt extremely nervous as if I’m the one who was to compete. Seeing her win, I felt relieved and happy," said Peter Malalad, a municipal councilor of Bulanay, Quezon.

Three hours later, it was Maria Marna Pabillore’s turn to steal the show as the Cagayan de Oro City karateka dumped Thailand’s Yarisa Torrattanawathana, 6-2, to grab the gold in the women’s individual kumite -53 kgs. class. Indonesia’s Jenny Zeannet took the bronze.

Pabillore beat Cambodia’s S. Raceana, 4-1, and then outlasted Vietnam’s Dao Thi Tu Anh, 2-1, to march to the finals.

In the championship round, Pabillore raced to a 5-0 lead with just 30 seconds gone by in the match. The Thai closed in at 2-5, but Pabillore sealed her victory with a right punch to the head with eight seconds to go.

"It’s God who helped me win. This victory will surely improve my confidence level," said Pabillore, who’s setting his sights next on the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

Aside from the two golds, the national athletes also got four bronzes, two coming from Cherli Tugday, who mangled Myanmar’s Sanda Myo Aye, 8-0, in the repechage of the women’s kumite -60 kgs., and Junel Perania, who beat Indonesia’s Aswar in the extension, 1-0, in the men’s kumite -70 kgs.

In the men’s kumite -75 kgs., Cebuano Sugar Rey Metante was leading over Brunei’s Tong Kit Siong, 9-5, with just 27 seconds left in the match, but was disqualified on technicalities.

Metante let loose what was perceived by fight officials as a foul punch that flattened Tong. Physician Armindo Ceniza waved off the match as Tong lay prostrate on the mat for about 10 minutes before he was rushed to a nearby hospital on a stretcher.