Tonga’s taekwondo athlete bows out to British opponent in a win by referee stop contest

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Tokyo

TOKYO, 27 JULY 2021 (PACNEWS) --- Tonga’s first-ever female taekwondo Olympian Malia Paseka lost to her British opponent, Lauren Williams yesterday.

The 21-year old Tongan Olympian who attributes her taking up taekwondo to her brother was hoping for a medal win in Tokyo.

In February 2020, Malia Paseka booked her spot at Tokyo 2020 after winning gold in the Women’s 67kg division at the Olympic Qualifier tournament on Australia’s Gold Coast.

She had previously won a bronze medal at the Pacific Games in Samoa in 2019.

Paseka was cited three times for ‘gam-jeom’, the only penalty in the sport of taekwondo.

According to Olympic rules a ‘gam-jeom’ is declared when an athlete punches to the face, or punches or kicks below the waist.

Paseka was penalised three times in the first round which led to the referee and the panel of judges to declare the game a ‘win by referee
stop contest.’

Paseka lost the match 0 - 11 to Williams.

Visit an earlier inspirational coverage of Malia Paseka by IOC Tokyo 2020 here.