Barbosa yields to Israeli in taekwondo

SINGAPORE – Kirk Barbosa failed to buck two head kicks and dropped a sorry 7-8 setback to a wily Gili Haimovitz of Israel, kissing his medal bid goodbye in taekwondo competitions of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games here yesterday.

Barbosa battled back with four hits in the third round but ran out of space and time as Haimovitz, threatened by the rallying Filipino jin, wisely used up the remaining seconds of the three-round fight to preserve his lead – and the win.

It was a heartbreaking loss indeed for the gutsy 15-year-old Barbosa, who absorbed two stinging axe kicks, including a contested one at the end of the opening round, and nearly forced a sudden death against a taller, older rival.

“Kirk did his best. He had to overcome two head kicks and had a six-point gap. But he showed tremendous spirit,” said coach Kitoy Cruz.

Barbosa also displayed and fought with a big fighting heart.

Down 3-8 at the end of the second round, Barbosa charged back right in the opening of the third, piling up four points, including a pair of 45-degree kicks, keeping the small crowd at the International Convention Center on the edge of their seats.

But Haimovitz recovered his bearing, parried Barbosa’s blows before staying away from his rival’s reach in the remaining seconds to the disappointment of the La Salle Greenhills bet.

Unable to deliver the match-tying hit, Barbosa slammed his head-gear onto the mat in frustration as the fight ended with the Israeli fighter on top, 8-7.

“He lost his temper at end of the fight because the referee did not command them to fight while Haimovitz stalled,” said RP chef de mission Mark Joseph.

The score actually stood at 0-0 at the end of the first round. But Haimovitz’s coach protested and asked for video replay, which showed his ward connecting on a head shot.

An axe-kick is worth three points.

But Barbosa bounced back right at the start of the second round, scoring with a spinning hook kick and a 45-degree to the right. However, the Israeli fighter connected on another head shot for another three points that made it, 8-3.

A win would’ve meant a sure bronze for Barbosa, the first casualty of a lean nine-man RP contingent in this sporting meet for 14-18 year-old athletes.