Clarence Sarza relishes winning silver in maiden SEA Games stint

Taekwondo jin Clarence Sarza with her silver medal from the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. POC Media

BANGKOK – Taekwondo jin Clarence Sarza initially just wanted to take in the experience of representing the Philippines in her first-ever Southeast Asian Games. 

But the 26-year-old got a major bonus, after she clinched silver in the women’s -46kg kyorugi event on Thursday.   

Sarza started her campaign off strong with back-to-back 2-0 wins over her Malaysian and Indonesian opponents. 

In the final, the Filipina taekwondo jin tried to get past Thailand's Patchakaran Poolkerd, but bowed to the hometown bet 2—0. 

"Almost. But I did my best. So this is a dream come true po kasi this is my first time at the SEA Games. So ang goal ko lang papunta dito is to enjoy my first time, mag-show up sa SEA Games," Sarza told POC Media. 

"I fell short. May kulang pa. May dapat pang ilakas. Pero ayun as a first SEA Games po I'm happy naka-ambag ako ng kahit silver," she added. 

Sarza said she is taking all the lessons she learned in her first SEA Games appearance to do better in the future.

 "There's no other way po kungdi mag-ensayo lang ulit. Aralin ulit kung saan pa may butas, alamin kung ano kulang. Pag-uwi ng Pilipinas, balik ensayo," she said. 

Sarza was a bronze medalist in the 2025 Chuncheon Korea Open. 

Earlier, Olympian Kurt Barbosa clinched bronze in the kyorugi men’s under 54kg division event. 

The three-time SEA Games gold medalist's title defense ended with a loss in the semifinals against Vietnam's Nguyen Hong Trong.