Two more medalists emerged from day 5’s afternoon session, in Tokyo, as the last Women’s Feather (54-57kg) quarterfinals took place on the Kokugikan Arena’s ring, today.
Karriss ARTINGSTALL of Great Britain and Japan’s IRIE Sena won their respective quarterfinal bouts, outdoing Australia’s Skye NICOLSON and Romania’s Maria Claudia NECHITA, respectively (both by a 3:2 split decision). Advancing to the semifinals, they are granted at least a bronze medal, along with PETECIO (PHI) and TESTA (ITA) who cleared their quarterfinals earlier today.
ARTINGSTALL and IRIE will now meet on the ring on 31 July, to decide who will move on to the gold medal match, scheduled on 3 August.
IRIE, competing on her home turf here in Tokyo, is guaranteed the first medal in Olympic Games history for Japan by a female boxer. Right after the bout, she said: “This is the result of 13 years’ hard work. I’ve made history, but it is still just a little contribution. I want to do more. Winning gold would be so much bigger.”
“Before the fight, I was getting so much support from my family and friends so I tried to forget I was fighting for a medal as I did not want the extra pressure,” she continued.
“If I had not got the bronze medal at least then I will have been very sad having worked so hard for this. It would not have been easy going back to the Village with the other athletes without a medal.”
IRIE was holding her hands in prayer while she waited for the result, which she took on a split decision (3-2):
“I was really worried before the result, but when I heard I’d won, it is just a great feeling. I would give myself 50 out of 100 for this performance. It will need to be more in the semifinal if I want to win the silver medal. I’ll aim for 100 out of 100.”
ARTINGSTALL said: “I am just over the moon to have got myself on that podium. I just keep grabbing this lion on my chest and I just can’t believe it. Well, I can believe it, obviously, as it’s in front of my eyes, but it’s amazing, I am lost for words.”
“Being an Olympian is the pinnacle of the sport. Getting here is everyone’s dream, isn’t it?” She continued. “But then to medal, and get yourself on that podium….It’s unbelievable and honestly, I can’t put into words what it means to me.”
“This is a tough category,” ARTINGSTALL added. “There are some really good girls in there and if you are not on your A game on the day then you are not getting the win, it’s as simple as that.”
In the Women’s Middle (69-75kg) round of 16, Zenfira MAGOMEDALIEVA (ROC) continued to impress the audience and the judges, as she outscored USA’s Naomi GRAHAM by 4:1 points to move on to the quarterfinal. There, she will face Adosinda Rady GRAMANE of Mozambique, as the 25-year-old first-time Olympian beat Ecuador’s Erika Stefania PACHITO JURADO.
The weight class’ round of 16 continued with a stunning victory recorded by Pooja RANI of India, who smashed Ichrak CHAIB of Algeria gaining a clear 5:0 win to advance to the quarterfinal, where seed #2 LI Qian of the People’s Republic of China is waiting for her after defeating Ireland’s Aoife O’ROURKE by 5:0.
Later today, In the Men’s Feather (52-57kg) round of 16, two-time Olympic bronze medalist Lazaro ALVAREZ of Cuba stunned Iran’s Daniyal SHAHBAKHSH, clearing the first round with ease, and then winning the bout as the referee stopped the contest amid round two. In the quarterfinal (1 August), he will go against Thailand’s Chatchai-Decha BUTDEE, who clinched a 4:1 victory over Argentina’s Mirco Jehel CUELLO. The other Men’s Feather quarterfinal will see Mongolia’s Tsendbaatar ERDENEBAT boxing against seed #2 Albert BATYRGAZIEV of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Today’s afternoon session was closed by the last four Men’s Light-Heavy (75-81kg) weights round of 16’s bouts. Seed #3, Cuba’s Arlen LOPEZ, had the best of Mohammed HUMRI of Algeria, moving on in the tournament. On 30 July, he will meet Mexico’s Rogelito ROMERO TORRESS who grabbed a 4:1 victory over Croatia’s Luka PLANTIC at the end of a tight and fierce duel. The last quarterfinal will see Turkey’s Bayram MALKAN boxing against Azerbaijan’s Loren Berto ALFONSO DOMINGUEZ, after the pair passed through their respective round of 16 bouts, today. MALKAN eliminated Ghana’s Shakul SAMED after giving him a count-down amid round two, while ALFONSO DOMINGUEZ gained a split decision win over Dilshod RUZMETOV of Uzbekistan.
The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Olympic Tournament continues tomorrow, with action due to start at 11:00 AM (Japan’s time) at the Kokugikan Arena.
Event schedule and results
Find the event schedule and the results here.
Updated Draw Sheets
