KIRSTIE ELAINE ALORA and Ian Lariba has shifted to high gear their respective preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.
Alora has been sparring with taller male opponents to visualize what the opposition in the women’s taekwondo competitions would look like in Rio. Alora has earlier stressed that she expects her opponents in the women’s +67 kilograms to be taller than her 5-foot-8 frame.
The jin, who earned her ticket to Rio from the Asian qualifiers in Manila last month, will also compete in the Korea Open in June along with other national team members.
“Pinag-aaralan talaga namin kung paano tatalunin ‘yung mga matatangkad na kalaban. Isa kasi ako sa pinakamaliit sa category ko. Kaya ang aim namin ngayon sa team together with the coaches ay mailaban ako sa competitions na mas malalaki ‘yung opponents ko,” Alora said.
Lariba, the first Filipino to qualify for Olympic table tennis, will see action in the Japan Open from June 15 to 19 and Korea Open from June 22 to 26. The two tournaments form part of her preparations for the August 5 to 21 Rio Games.
“Napakabigat ng responsibility ko. Siyempre mayroon nang expectations ang lahat. Ang goal ko talaga is mabigay ang best ko para sa bansa natin,” said Lariba, whose 11th-place finish in the 2016 International Table Tennis Federation-Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Hong Kong last month was enough for her to make it to Rio.
“Matindi na ‘yung level of competition sa Olympics, hindi na talaga magiging madali,” Lariba added.
Joining Alora and Lariba in Rio are hurdler Eric Shauwn Cray, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez.