WALES’ two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones faced a surprising defeat in her opening bout at the Paris Games.
Ranked third in the competition, Jones was drawn against the No. 14 seed, Miliana Reljikj, in the round of 16. In a scrappy contest, Jones fell behind, losing the first round 7-6. Although she managed to level the scores by narrowly winning the second round 5-4, the decider ended in a 1-1 draw. Reljikj, from North Macedonia, secured the upset victory by landing more blows throughout the contest.
Jones had experienced a tumultuous lead-up to the Games but was still considered a medal favourite in the women’s -57kg division. Her participation was in jeopardy due to a missed drugs test. However, she was later found to have committed a no-fault doping violation on confidential medical grounds, with the UK Anti-Doping Agency describing her situation as “very exceptional circumstances”.
In contrast, there was better news for Bradly Sinden, who came tantalisingly close to winning Olympic gold at the last Games in Tokyo. In his first bout in Paris, Sinden needed barely 60 seconds to establish a commanding lead over his first-round opponent, Kevin Kassman.
Hoping to be Team GB’s first gold medallist in the last Olympics, Sinden was denied victory at the last moment in Tokyo but arrived in France as one of the favourites in the men’s -68kg category. He began with a kick to the trunk and then the head, which required medical treatment for Kassman from Papua New Guinea. Sinden achieved a 12-0 lead in the first round, bringing it to an early conclusion. He repeated this feat in less than 30 seconds in round two, ensuring an effortless passage into the last eight later on Thursday.
Nicknamed ‘Mr Consistent’ by his teammates, Sinden has made no secret of his quest for redemption in Paris.
