TEAM Fiji Paralympic taekwondo athlete Irene Mar’s journey in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris has concluded. The 19-year-old was unable to secure a chance for a bronze medal playoff after suffering a 12-6 defeat to Kamilya Dosmalova from Kazakhstan in the women’s K44-57kg repechage held at the Grand Palais.
Mar began her Olympic experience on a high note, achieving a convincing victory over world number 7, Ukrainian athlete Yuliya Lypetska, with a score of 25-3. However, in the quarter-finals, she faced a setback, losing 29-5 to Turkey’s Gamze Gurdal. Despite her earlier defeat, Mar remained hopeful for a medal but ultimately fell short against the more seasoned Dosmalova.
Irene Mar was one of three athletes representing Fiji in the Paralympic Games and also had the honor of serving as Team Fiji’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony. Her teammates, Naibili Vatunisolo and Seni Seau, are set to compete in women’s shot put next.