December 9, 2019 – The Philippines and Vietnam grab the gold medals in the women’s taekwondo at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Pauline Louise Lopez grabbed the first gold medal of the day after mauling Cambodian Aliza Chhoeung in the featherweight category.
Lopez started the first round strong, dealing significant strikes to Chhoeung and getting a 4-0 lead.
The Cambodian retaliates in the second round, hitting two significant strikes to the Filipino, but Lopez replied with three to end the round 7-2.
From thereon, Lopez dominated her opponent in the final round, securing a 5-2 third round finish and a 12-4 total in favor of the Filipino.
Cambodia loses another gold medal opportunity, this time in the lightweight division against Phan Thi Thu Hien of Vietnam.
Phan started strong and deals a 2-0 advantage to Casandra Nicole Tubbs, but the Cambodian replied with counters, ending the second round 4-3 still for Vietnam.
It was a close affair for both fighters, but Phan get the win after the end of the third round 11-9.
Vietnam takes another gold courtesy of Bac Thi Khiem against Laila Delo of the Philippines in the welterweight division.
It was a close 3-3 fight at the end of the second round, but Bac scored two strikes to win the affair 5-3.
The Philippines settled for another silver medal finish as Kirstie Alora succumbed to Seamvey Sor of Cambodia.
Alora led in the first round, but the Cambodian tied the affair to 5-5 at the end of the second.
Sor scored a third round victory, ending the bout 12-9 in favor of the Cambodian.
