Filipino bet Junna Tsukii fell short of contending for a gold medal after absorbing a stinging 2-4 loss to Egyptian Reem Ahmed Salama in the first round of the pool winner tree of the Karate1 Premier League-Paris 2024 women’s -50 kilograms kumite in France last Friday.
The World Games gold medalist will have to settle for a bronze medal in the repechage.
Tsukii, No. 41 in the World Karate Federation rankings, will be duking it out with No. 3 Moldir Zhangbrybay of Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Tsukii looked poised to contend for a gold medal after crushing Bettina Plank of Austria, 3-1, before dominating Canada’s Yamina Lahyanssa, 4-0, in the main pool tree to advance to the next round.
However, her Egyptian foe spoiled it all.
Still, the 32-year-old karateka is determined to finish the competition on a high note.
“Thank you for your support. I made it to the Sunday bronze match. It will be a great day,” Tsukii said.
