Kurt Barbosa was the first Filipino athlete to bow out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after his Round of 16 opponent and reigning world champion Jang Jun of South Korea lost in the semifinals of the taekwondo men's 58 kg event at the Makuhari Messe Hall on Saturday, July 24.
Mohammed Khalil Jendoubi of Tunisia stunned the world No. 1 and top seed Jang, 25-19, in the semis and effectively ended the Olympic campaign of Barbosa.
Barbosa suffered a 26-6 loss to Jang earlier in their opening match. The 22-year-old pride of Bangued, Abra could have competed in the repechage had the South Korean made it to the finals.