Old fire gone in RP taekwondo jin?

DOHA — She said she wanted to win the gold. But the way she performed, Veronica Domingo seemed lacking the drive to go for it as she was completely outclassed by Thai rival Chonnapas Premwaew in the semifinal bout of the women’s 63kg division in taekwondo in the Asian Games at the Qatar Sports Club here late Thursday.

It was a pitiable sight to see the Vietnam SEA Games champion getting clobbered, virtually defenseless as Premwaew pressed her attacks particularly in the second round where the Thai scored on two D2s-Deuk-jeom (2 points) in the face en route to a 7-0 rout, forcing the referee to declare Premwaew winner via RSC.

"I really wanted to win the gold as I came close in the semifinals," said the 27-year-old Domingo, who drew a bye in the first round, then dominated Carina Hammoud of Lebanon, 5-1, in the quarters.

But none of the fire of that quarterfinal victory was evident in her semis clash with Premwaew as the Thai simply imposed her will to cruise to the final.

Domingo settled for the bronze, the second for taekwondo after finweight Kathleen Eunice Alora fell short of her rally and absorbed a 2-3 loss to Chinese Jingyu Wu in their own side of the semis duel in the 47kg division.

"I’m happy with a bronze medal," said Domingo, who stands to receive P100,000 as incentive from the government. - Dante Navarro