GUANGZHOU — Pauline Louise Lopez hasn’t spoken to her parents for 10 days now.
“I miss them so much,” said the 14-year-old taekwondo jin who bowed out in the quarterfinals of the women’s under-46 kilogram division Wednesday in the 16th Asian Games.
Lopez, who lives in Los Angeles, California, has not been away from home this long.
But being with people close to his father, Jun Lopez, a former national team mainstay, helps her cope with homesickness.
“I’m thrilled to be here. I had a wonderful time. Now, I’m going to try and help my teammates anyway I can,” said Lopez who dropped a close 10-6 decision to Jordan’s Dana Touran in the Round of Eight.
National coach Rocky Samson said the match was closer than what the score suggests.
“Both fighters were tied going into the last 15 seconds of the match until Pauline was warned for the second time by the referee for stepping out of the mat,” Samson said.
The two warnings cost Lopez a point, prompting the Fil-American to go all out. Touran connected with a head kick just before the end of the match.
Lopez actually led, 3-0, in the first round after landing a defensive kick on the head of her opponent.
But Touran, a semifinalist in the Asian championship and silver medalist in the World Youth Olympics this year, drew level after the second round following two head connections against Lopez’s one.
Notwithstanding the defeat, Samson sees a bright future for Lopez.
“She has the potential to qualify in the London Olympics. She’s skilful and willing to learn,” said Samson.
Lopez is one of several jins being trained by former national team members in Los Angeles, led by Dean Vargas, a former Southeast Asian Games champion.
“We have a satellite training center there. We’re always on the look out for talents,” said Samson.
Like everyone else, Samson said Lopez has to prove herself and join the regular tryouts to make herself eligible.
“She must also join the team which regularly trains in Korea,” Samson said.
Lopez said she will stay a couple of days in Manila before flying home to be with her proud parents.
Rey Bancod, Manila Bulletin
