Korean, French ace jins to beat; Rivero unfazed

The top two qualifiers from the 2007 world championships – Hwang Kyung-seon of Korea and Gwladys Epangue of France – loom as the jins to beat when the women’s taekwondo competitions get underway Aug. 22.

“If you qualify from the world championships, you ‘re one of the best,” said Filipino national coach Rocky Samson.

Hwang and Epangue have dominated the sport in the continental and world level during the last two years.

 Hwang beat Epangue to win the world championships in 2005 (Madrid) and in 2007 (Beijing). Her gold medal performance in 2007 was her ticket to Beijing.

Hwang also defeated Mary Antoinette Rivero in the repechage in the Athens Olympics to finish with the bronze medal in the welterweight event where China’s Luo Wei won the gold.

Luo is not defending her title.

Epangue, who celebrated her 25th birthday Aug. 15, won the silver medal both in the 2005 and 2007 world championships, and became a dominant figure in European taekwondo where she ruled the welterweight division in 2005 and finished second in the 2006 and 2008 editions..

Filipino coach Rocky Samson said everybody’s about equal in the event, although the luck of the draw could enhance Rivero’s medal chances.

“Of course, a good draw for us is when those with a good kick are in a different group while Toni gets to the other half of the draw so she meets them only in the finals,” said Samson.

Actually, Whatever the draw is, our jins are already mature, she’ll fight whatever comes her way,” he added. “On our part, whatever the draw, we are back to the situation where you have to fight everybody. That’s the only way you prove to yourself that you can be an Olympic champion”

The three qualifiers from Europe are Sibel Guler of Turkey, Elisavet Mystakidou of Greece and Helena Fromm of Germany in place of Budak Pinar.

The Asian qualifiers are Rivero, Maltha Sheikha Almaktoum of United Arab Emirates and Liya Nurkina of Kazakhstan.

Qualifying from the PanAmerica tournament are Vanina Paola Beron Sanchez of Argentina, Karine Sergerie of Canada and Asuncion Rodriguez Ocasio of Puerto Rico.

The African qualifiers are Bernabederrasoul Mouna of Morroco and Dalanda Mariana Barry of Papua New Guinea.

The wild card entries are Tina Morgan of Australia in place of original qualifier Burak Hassan, Yoriko Okamoto of Japan, and Sandra Saric of Croatia.