Uzbek taekwondo athlete Ulugbek Rashitov has reached the final of the Olympic Games in Paris on August 8, securing at least a silver medal in the men's 68 kg weight category. Rashitov’s performance has garnered notable attention as he continues to build on his success from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where he clinched the gold medal in the same weight division.
The 22-year-old Rashitov began his campaign in Paris with a decisive victory in the 1/8 finals. His first opponent, LO,Wai Fungg from Hong Kong, aged 21, was outclassed by Rashitov with a comprehensive score of 2:0. Rashitov dominated the first round with a score of 12:0 and continued his impressive performance with a 9:2 win in the second round.
In the quarterfinals, Rashitov faced Liang Yushuai of China, a 23-year-old taekwondo champion and vice-champion of Asia in 2022. Rashitov displayed his prowess by winning both rounds with scores of 2:1 and 9:2, showcasing his technical skill and strategic acumen.
The semifinals proved to be a challenging encounter for Rashitov. He went up against Javier Perez from Spain, who is a 27-year-old vice-champion of the 2019 World Taekwondo Championships and a European Games champion. Rashitov initially led with a score of 7:3 in the first round. However, during a kick in the second round, Rashitov appeared to sustain an injury, resulting in a noticeable limp. Despite the setback, Rashitov managed to draw the second round 3:3, securing his place in the final with his overall performance.
The final will see Rashitov competing against Zaid Abdul Kareem from Jordan. The match, scheduled for the night of August 9 at 00:19 local time, is a rematch of the Asian Games final held in September 2023, where Rashitov emerged victorious.
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