"I Didn't Want to Win the Bronze Medal"... Female Boxer Lim Aeji's Sigh [Paris Olympics]

On the 4th (local time), Lim Ae-ji is seen expressing regret after losing by decision to Hatice Akbas of Turkey in the women's 54kg semifinal boxing match at the 2024 Paris Olympics held at the North Arena in Paris, France.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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Lim Ae-ji (25, Hwasun County Office), who won the bronze medal in the women's 54kg boxing semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, expressed disappointment with the match result despite securing the first-ever medal in women's boxing history.

In an interview immediately after the match, Lim said, "I didn't want to just win the bronze medal. I was determined to reach the finals and believed I could definitely make it." She added, "I thought I won in the end. I wanted to go all the way. I have regrets. I didn't want to face Hatice (Akbas). After watching the footage, I told myself I had to beat her this time, but I couldn't, so my disappointment is even greater."

On the 4th (Korean time) at the North Paris Arena in Paris, France, Lim Ae-ji lost by decision 2-3 (29-28, 30-27, 28-29, 30-27, 28-29) to Turkey's Hatice Akbas in the women's 54kg boxing semifinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing the bronze medal.

The match left even more regret due to a difficult-to-understand judgment. Although Lim Ae-ji landed more effective punches in the first round, three out of five judges scored the round 10-9 in favor of Akbas. Lim gave her all afterward but ultimately could not overcome Akbas's challenge.

Lim acknowledged her defeat, saying, "(Akbas) is a fast player with strong finishing after attacks. I think I lost in that aspect. I wasn't clean enough." She then promised to aim for a medal by challenging the LA (Olympics) in four years.

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