TEAM Fiji Paralympic taekwondo athlete Irene Mar’s journey in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris has concluded. The 19-year-old athlete missed the opportunity to compete for a bronze medal after losing 12-6 to Kamilya Dosmalova from Kazakhstan in the women’s K44-57kg repechage at the Grand Palais.
Mar had a strong start in the Games, achieving a significant victory against the world number 7 Ukrainian competitor Yuliya Lypetska with a score of 25-3. However, she faced a setback in the quarter-finals, where she was defeated 29-5 by Gamze Gurdal from Turkey.
Although still in the medal contention during the repechage, Mar ultimately fell to the more experienced Dosmalova. She is one of three athletes representing Fiji at the Paralympic Games in Paris and served as Team Fiji’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony.
The next competitors from Team Fiji are Naibili Vatunisolo and Seni Seau, who will participate in women’s shot put events.