TEAM Fiji Paralympic Taekwondo athlete Irene Mar’s aspirations for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris have concluded. The 19-year-old was eliminated from the competition after a 12-6 defeat against Kamilya Dosmalova from Kazakhstan in the women’s K44-57kg repechage held at the Grand Palais.
Mar began the Games impressively, securing a victory over the world number 7, Ukrainian athlete Yuliya Lypetska, with a score of 25-3. As the 10th ranked athlete, she advanced to the quarter-finals but was defeated 29-5 by Turkey’s Gamze Gurdal. Despite still having a chance for a medal in the repechage, Mar fell to the more seasoned Dosmalova.
Mar is among three athletes representing Fiji in Paris and served as Team Fiji’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony. Next up in the competition are Naibili Vatunisolo and Seni Seau, who are both participating in the women’s shot put event.