Taekwondo Lee Dae-hoon, Shock Defeat in Round of 16... Fails to Redeem Gold and Challenge Grand Slam

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Our Taekwondo star Lee Dae-hoon (29, Daejeon City Hall) failed to win a gold medal for the third time at the Olympics.

On the 25th, Lee Dae-hoon lost in the round of 16 in the men's 68kg category on the second day of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Taekwondo competition held at Makuhari Messe Hall A in Chiba, Japan, after an overtime match against Ulugbek Rashitov (Uzbekistan).

Both athletes were tied at 19-19 after three rounds of 2 minutes each, leading to a golden point overtime where the first to score two points wins. Lee Dae-hoon conceded 2 points after being hit on the torso by his opponent's left foot just 17 seconds into the overtime and lost the match.

With this, Lee Dae-hoon failed to advance to the quarterfinals, ending his challenge for the gold medal. Rashitov needed to reach the final for Lee to have a chance at a bronze medal through the repechage.

Lee Dae-hoon has competed in three consecutive Olympic Games since the 2012 London Games but has yet to win a gold medal.

Lee is the third Korean Taekwondo athlete to participate in three consecutive Olympics, following retired Hwang Kyung-sun (2004, 2008, 2012) and Cha Dong-min (2008, 2012, 2016).

Lee won a silver medal in the 58kg category at the London Games and a bronze medal in the 68kg category at the Rio Games. He is the only Korean Taekwondo athlete to win medals in two consecutive Olympics in different weight classes.

Before the Tokyo Olympics, Lee Dae-hoon had claimed titles at the World Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Championships. Had he won the gold medal in Tokyo, he would have achieved a Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments since the London Games, but he tasted defeat in the round of 16.

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