Pinay gets silver medal in Asian Games karate

Filipino karateka Ma. Marna Pabillore posted a silver finish in the women's 53-plus kilograms division of the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday night. The Filipinos now have two gold, five silver, and seven bronze medals in the quadrennial event. Pabillore reached the gold medal round with wins over Ha Ryon Bok of North Korea, 7-1, Venera Zhetibay of Kazakhstan , 3-1, and Lim Lee Lee of Malaysia, 3-1. But the Filipina was overpowered by Japanese Tomoko Araga in the finals, 9-1. Despite being relegated as runner-up, the 21-year-old Pabillore posted the best finish ever of any Filipino in the event. She was the first Filipino to reach the finals in the Asian Games level of the competition. Gretchen Malalad, Richard Lim, and David all went home with bronze medals in the Asian Games. Malalad will try to at least duplicate that bronze medal finish when she fights in the 60-plus kilograms late Wednesday. This was also the second medal by the Filipino karatekas after Noel Espinosa earned a bronze medal finish in the men's kata. - GMNews.TV