Tokyo Olympics: Bradly Sinden takes silver for Great Britain after defeat in taekwondo final
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Sinden wins taekwondo silver for GB after narrow defeat in final
Tokyo Olympic Games on the BBC |
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Dates: 23 July-8 August Time in Tokyo: BST +8 |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button and online; Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sports Extra and Sounds; live text and video clips on BBC Sport website and app. |
Bradly Sinden secured silver for Great Britain after defeat by Uzbekistan's Ulugbek Rashitov in the taekwondo -68kg final.
The 2019 world champion, 22, was bidding to become Britain's first male Olympic taekwondo champion but was beaten 34-29. He wins Britain's first silver medal of the Tokyo Games.
Trailing 18-14 going into the final round, Sinden fought back in a see-saw finale to take a 28-26 lead going into the final seconds.
However, Rashitov responded immediately to edge back in front and a strong trunk kick with six seconds remaining sealed a dramatic victory.
"It was my gold medal to give away - obviously he is a good fighter, I just made a few mistakes," said Sinden. "I think I got unlucky with a few things as well but that is taekwondo.
"I thought he was on the back foot. You have to commend him for what he did - a few mistakes from me, well done to him. You'll see me again in Paris."
Despite his disappointment at losing the final, Sinden can reflect on a fine Olympics debut that continues his rapid rise in the sport.
The Doncaster-born fighter won his first major senior medal at the 2017 World Championships aged just 18. Two years later, he became the first British man to win a taekwondo world title.
In Tokyo, he powered into the semi-final with a 20-point win against Tukey's Hakan Recber before coming from behind to beat Zhao Shuai of China 33-25 to guarantee a himself a medal.
"We were here to get gold - anything else is not what we're here to celebrate. Maybe eventually I will get over it," added Sinden. "But for now it has got me that I didn't win gold when I think it was there for me to take. I will take that and improve on it."
Team GB's first medal was won earlier on Sunday, with Chelsie Giles securing bronze in the women's -52kg judo.
However, there was disappointment for two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones, who suffered a 16-12 defeat by Kimia Alizadeh of the Refugee Olympic Team.
Bradly Sinden had to be consoled by his trainer at the end of the fight
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