Japoy Lizardo reveals he dreamt of Kurt Barbosa's Olympic qualification before it happened

Almost no one saw it coming except for former national athlete Japoy Lizardo.

Lizardo, himself a Filipino taekwondo legend, revealed that a day before Kurt Barbosa stepped onto the mat of the 2021 Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification tournament on Saturday night, he had a dream that the 21-year-old jin would win a ticket to the Tokyo Olympics.

True enough, Barbosa fulfilled Lizardo’s premonition.

Barbosa, a 2019 SEA Games gold medalist, secured an Olympic berth after a come-from-behind victory over hometown bet Zaid Al-Halawani of Jordan, 50-49, in the semifinals of the -59kg category of the qualifiers.

With his win, Barbosa joins the Philippine contingent to Tokyo that already has EJ Obiena (pole vault), Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), Eumir Marcial, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, and Nesthy Petecio (boxing) and Cris Nievarez (rowing).

“Alam mo, bago pa siya mag-qualify, napanaginipan ko na nag-qualify talaga si Kurt at nakakuha siya ng ticket para sa Olympics,” Lizardo told GMA News Online on Monday.

“And I told it to coach Caloy (Padilla) but hindi ko sinabi kung sino ‘yung nanalo kasi baka mawala ‘yung focus nila. Very clear ‘yung panaginip and sabi ko talaga na sana magkatotoo.”

Lizardo always knew that Barbosa was off to greatness.

The 34-year-old former athlete said he witnessed Barbosa's significant growth, having seen him train while he was still in elementary up until in his collegiate stint with the National University in UAAP.

Barbosa started suiting up for NU in Season 81 and was named both the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

“Sobrang proud talaga ako. Kasi si Kurt, nakikita ko na yan sa training since elementary until sa college niya kaya nakita ko talaga ‘yung progress ng bata,” shared Lizardo.

“And nakikita ko talaga na gusto niyang manalo every time he has a fight.”

Barbosa was also the first Filipino jin to make it to the Olympics after Tshomlee Go did the trick in 2008 in Beijing and Lizardo beamed with confidence that the young athlete can bring home an Olympic medal---an achievement he himself never had in his illustrious career.

Lizardo has an array of medals including two golds in the 2005 and 2011 SEA Games along with another silver in the 2009 edition of the biennial meet. He also copped three silver and a bronze medal in Asian Championships.

But the Olympics was never in his stockpile of conquest.

“Nag-try din ako na mag-qualify before pero hindi ako pinalad and super proud lang ako na si Kurt narating ‘yun,” said Lizardo.

“Kaya niya ‘yan. I believe that he can win a medal in the Olympics.” —JMB, GMA News