MANILA, Philippines - Two-time Olympian Tshomlee Go, one of the most decorated taekwondo jins the country has produced the past decade, has also announced his retirement from the sport. An education graduate of the University of Santo Tomas, Go, who turned 30 on Thursday, saw action in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics and has gifted the country with a silver mint during the 2006 Doha Asian Games and a bronze in the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
“Medyo mahirap na decision yung ginawa ko especially dahil mahal na mahal ko yung ginagawa ko, pero hanggang dun na lang siguro ako. Ibang chapter naman, panibagong laban,” Go, who is in the United States with his wife, said in an e-mail.
A gold medalist in the 2005 Manila, 2007 Thailand and 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games, Go said he had already informed his teammates and the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) officials about his decision.
“Tshomlee has done enough for the country. We wish him luck. But our Olympic drive is on track. Our development is continuing. We have 100 players in the national pool,” PTA executive vice president Sung Chon Hong said.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Richie Garcia agreed.
“We lose some good athletes, but sports goes on. They have to retire one time or another and they thought it was their time to rest,” Garcia said.
Kristel Satumbaga, Manila Bulletin
