Go lost but he fought well, says Aventajado

BEIJING – Taekwondo association president Robert Aventajado expressed disagreement with the officiating even as he said his ward Tshomlee Go gave a heroic fight in his round-of-16 encounter with Australian Ryan Carneli in the flyweight division of the taekwondo competitions yesterday.

“We disagree with the officiating but we have to accept it,” said Aventajado who went straight to the playing hall of the Beijing University of Science and Technology after his arrival here from Manila to watch Go’s first round bout.

“Tshomlee’s kicks connected but they must not have been seen by the judges,” he added. “We’re still proud of our fighter and we thank those who prayed for him.”

The arena is a 10mX10m mat where players compete on a raised platform, Each of the four judges is assigned to each side to ensure each kick or blow is within clear view of any of the judges.

National coach Raul Samson said a judge normally will not score a point if he is not sure if it is a clear kick or blow.

After the completion of the first round at 12 noon, Go and his coaches Kim Hong Sik and Samson waited until 4:45 p.m. yesterday to see the outcome of the quarterfinal bout between Carneli and Thai Chutchawal Khawlaor to know if Go could qualify for the repechage.

Khawlaor defeatd Carneli, 2-0, ending Go’s bid for a bronze medal.

In the biggest upset of the day, world, Olympic and Asian champion Chu Mu Yen lost to Gabriel Yulis Mercedes of the Dominican Republic, 2-3, and was out of the gold medal round.