Paris Olympics in their mind..PH JINS BARBOSA AND ALCANTARA OFF TO ASIAN QUALIFYING IN CHINA

WHILE the Filipino boxers led by Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio are engaged in boxing action in Italy, taekwondo artists Kurt Bryan Barbosa and Arven Alcantara, on the other hand, are set to compete in the Asian qualifying on March 16-17 in Tai’an, China.

Barbosa and Alcantara, gold medalists in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia and Southeast Asian Taekwondo, enplaned for China both in high spirit and their morale are so high and determined to earn a trip ticket to Paris and join early qualifiers Ernest John Obiena, Carlos Yulo and Felix Eumir Marcial.

The Asian qualifying held simultaneously with the European qualifying in Bulgaria recently the Filipino boxers led by Marcial, Paalam and Petecio competed in World Boxing Championship held at the capital city Sofia.

Stephen Fernandez

Kurt Barbosa

Arven Alcantara

Barbosa ang Alcantara will match taekwondo prowess against rivals from host China, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Afghanistan, Mongolia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Thailand.

Despite the great odds that Barbosa and Alcantara will encounter in China, the country’s top two jins are not afraid as they exude optimism and ready physically and mentally to face the biggest and toughest challenge they will face in their dream to compete in Paris where the Philippines first competed in the quadrennial meet in 1924 with David Nepomuceno became the first Filipino to compete in the 100m and 200m.

Like Barbosa and Alcantara, Philippine Taekwondo Association grassroots development program chief Stephen Fernandez is hopeful that Philippines' best bet will survive and overcome tremendous pressure.

“It’s a herculean task for Barbosa and Alcantara. It is like scaling the world’s highest mountain Mount Everest. They have to fight with the best of their abilities, use their taekwondo know-how and utilize their wide experience because they are against the brightest taekwondo fighters in Asia,” sabi ni Fernandez.

“Regular nageensayo sila morning and afternoon paghandaan ang qualifying sa China. Sana magtagumpay sila at makalaro sa Paris,” said Fernandez in an exclusive interview.

Fernandez competed in 1988 Seoul where Arianne Cerdenia won the gold demo sport bowling and 1992 Barcelona Olympics with fellow SEA Games gold medalist Monsour del Rosario where Roel Velasco won the bronze.

Fernandez, won the gold in 1987 SEA Games in Indonesia and bronze in 1991 sa Manila and 1989 in Malaysia.

The mission of Barbosa and Alcantara was bankrolled by Philippine Sports Commission and MVP Sports Foundation and supported by Philippine Olympic Committee.