Jade Zafra, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champion, hurt her right knee and was pulled out of the Games.

“It’s very unfortunate this happened to me with the Asian Games one month away. I’m really sad because I couldn’t help my teammates in the medal campaign because of my injury,” said the 24-year-old journalism graduate from University of Santo Tomas.

“I will consult Dr. Vic Gaddi of Philippine Center for Sports Medicine. I will know from him if my injury would be operated or not,” said the 5-foot-10 Zafra, who won the gold in the featherweight category in Myanmar.

Zafra won silver in the University Games in Korea and saw action in the 2013 World Taekwondo in Mexico.

Philippine Taekwondo Association vice president Sung Chon Hong has yet to name Zafra’s replacement as he is still in Korea attending the Asian Games Taekwondo meeting.

The absence of Zafra leaves John Paul Lizardo, Fil-Am Samuel Thomas Harper Morrison, Benjamin Keith Sembrano, Paul Romero, Christian Al de la Cruz, Mary Anjay Pelaez, Pauline Louise Lopez, and Kirstie Elaine Alora to spearhead taekwondo’s medal campaign in Incheon.

The Asian Games-bound jins along with 20 junior athletes trained for two weeks in Korea. They will be handled by Korean coach Junho Ko and assisted by coaches Dindo Simpao and Roberto Cruz.

 

 

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