Fiji’s Paralympic taekwondo athlete Irene Mar has concluded her journey at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. The 19-year-old was eliminated from medal contention after suffering a 12-6 defeat to Kamilya Dosmalova of Kazakhstan in the women’s K44-57kg repechage at the Grand Palais.
Mar began her Paralympic campaign on a strong note, achieving a significant victory over Ukrainian competitor Yuliya Lypetska, ranked seventh in the world, with a score of 25-3. However, she faced a setback in the quarter-finals, losing to Turkey’s Gamze Gurdal with a score of 29-5.
Despite remaining hopeful for a bronze medal in the repechage round, Mar ultimately lost to the more seasoned Dosmalova. She is part of a trio of athletes representing Fiji at the Games, having also served as the flagbearer for Team Fiji during the opening ceremony. Competing next are her teammates Naibili Vatunisolo and Seni Seau, who will participate in the women’s shot put event.