Lopez kuminang sa Korea Open

KUMALAWIT ng gold medal si Pinay Jin Pauline Louise Lopez sa katatapos na 2017 Korea Open international taekwondo championships sa Chuncheon City, Korea.

Ibinalandra ni Lopez, 21-year-old Ateneo psycho-logy student ang unang apat na katunggali under-57 kilogram competition bago pinagpag sa finals si Brazilian Rasaela Araujo, 16-11.

“I was excited, very happy and overwhelmed,” saad ni Lopez matapos pasukuin ang Brazilian opponent.

“That victory is important because it has inspired me to work harder and pursue my dream to make it to the Olympic Games, which I narrowly missed in last year’s qualifying tournament for the Rio Olympics.”

Inumpisahan ni Lopez ang kanyang Korean campaign sa pagtaob sa Korean opponent, 21-5, Guamanian, 22-2 at tinalo ang Chinese rival, 6-5 bago payukuin ang France entry, 11-5 upang sumampa sa finals.

Dalawang beses sa isang araw nag-eensayo si Lopez na nagsimulang mag-taekwondo noong 2010 nag siya 14 anyos pa lang.

“That’s the reason I manage to sharpen my skills,” specially when preparing for important tournaments like next month’s SEA Games in Malaysia,” wika ni Lopez.

Nagwagi rin ng gold medals si Lopez sa 2015 SEAG at 2013 Asian Youth championships sa China. (ARABELA PRINCESS DAWA)