Santiago (AFP) – By Caitlin Marie Ray Mexico dominates the first day of Taekwondo competition at the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games on Saturday with five finals, while the United States begins its quest for gold in the Chilean capital. Kaitlyn Marie Reclusado won the women’s individual poomsae competition.
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Reclusado defeated María Alejandra Higueros of Guatemala, who competed as an independent athlete, in the final. The bronze medal went to Mexico’s Cecilia Lee Kim and Puerto Rico’s Arelis Medina.
Guatemala’s athletes will compete at the 2023 Santiago Games as independent athletes and under the neutral flag of Panam Sports, the organization hosting the Games, due to sanctions imposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on local committees in 2022.
In the second men’s poomsae final of the day, William Arroyo defeated Nicaraguan Elián Ortega in the final to claim the first title for the Aztecs gold medal. The bronze medal winners were Luis Colón of Puerto Rico and Hugo del Castillo of Peru.
In the afternoon, Daniela Souza defeated Colombia’s Andrea Ramírez in the women’s 49kg Kyorugi final to win a new gold medal for Mexico.
Brandon Plaza beats Argentina’s Lucas Guzmán in the men’s 58kg final to give Mexico the final title
In the remaining finals on Saturday, in the men’s 68kg category, American player Khalfani Harris defeated Dominican player Bernardo Pie, who eventually won the silver medal.
Women’s personal poomsae:
1. Kaitlyn Reclusado (USA) – Gold Medal
2. María Alejandra Higueros (EAI) – Silver Medal
3. Cecilia Lee Kim (Mexico) – Bronze Medal
Arelis Medina (PUR) – Bronze
Men’s personal poomsae:
1. William Arroyo (Mexico) – Gold Medal
2. Elián Ortega (NCA) – Silver Medal
3. Luis Colon (PUR) – Bronze Medal
Hugo del Castillo (PER) – Bronze Medal
-49kg female Kyorugi:
1. Daniela Souza (Mexico) – Gold Medal
2. Andrea Ramírez (COL) – Silver Medal
3. Clara Sendra (ARG) – Bronze Medal
Melina Daniel (USA) – Bronze Medal
-58kg male Kyorugi:
1. Brandon Plaza (MEX) – Gold Award
2. Lucas Guzman (ARG) – Silver Medal
3. John Garrido (COL) – Bronze Medal
Paul Souza (BRA) – Bronze Medal
-68kg male Jingrumu
1. Khalfani Harris (USA) – Gold Medal
2. Bernardo Pie (DOM) – Silver Medal
3. Park Tae-koo (Canada) – Bronze medal
Jose Luis Acuña (ARG) – Bronze Medal
© 2023 AFP