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His History-Making Match "Very Precious"
Sena Irie made history as the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. He set the record when he was crowned featherweight champion after defeating Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio in Tokyo on Tuesday (3/8).
Sena Irie said, "Even before the match started, I thought it was my destiny to compete against Nesthy Petecio. This match is really something that is very valuable to me. As I have said many times, I am very happy to have the opportunity to compete against Nesthy which I respect as a person and as a boxer."
The 20 -year -old boxer won the absolute figure thanks to his decisive jab shot.
Japan's Sena Irie (right), expresses her joy when she was announced as the winner in the final match of the women's 60 kg featherweight boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, against Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio (left), Tuesday, August 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
How does it feel when you are on the podium? Irie revealed, "While I was on the podium and listening to the national anthem, I could feel my tears flowing because I became a champion."Tonosama Gaeru " is the name of the strategy I hold. I don't know the exact meaning, but I think it means the frog king. So I guess my coach said, I have to be the king of boxing."
The fight was tight after the first two rounds, but Irie then stepped up with a shot at just the right time to win the votes of all five judges at the Kokugikan Arena, a venue usually used for sumo.
Boxer from the Philippines, Nesthy Petecio (right) fights boxer from Japan, Sena Irie, in the final match of the women's 60 kg featherweight boxing at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, August 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
With this win, Irie wants to send a message to young girls.​ "It's a great honor for me to win my first gold medal as a female boxer. I'm not really good at sports in general. So I think this sends a message. to girls who are not good at sports that if they put in the effort they will be able to achieve something. That's my message."
Many praised Irie for her success as the first Japanese woman to win a gold medal in boxing.
"I really felt that people's reaction to my victory was amazing. Many famous people congratulated me on Twitter, "Congratulations Irie". Usually this never happens. So it made me realize that this is the greatness of the Olympics, " he explained.
Women's boxer from Japan Sena Irie (right) receives congratulations after receiving a gold medal in the women's 60 kg featherweight boxing final match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, against Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio, Tuesday, August 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP)
After this victory, Irie wants to compete even better in an effort to win a gold medal in the following competitions.
"I've won the gold medal. But in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the score was 3-2 and I could have lost the match. So I want to win the game by 5-0. I want to have a win where everyone can see I won by absolute points. So I have set it as a target and want to win a gold medal in the upcoming international competition," he said. [lj/uh]
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