Ruth Gbagbi clinched bronze media for Ivory Coast in Taekwondo at the ongoing Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday.
The 27-year-old began her day with a walkover victory in the 67 kg following the disqualification of DR Congo representative Naomie Katoka in the round of 16.
She defeated her Chinese opponent, Mengyu Zhang, 21-9 in the quarterfinals but lost to Briton, Lauren Williams, in the semi-finals.
In the third-place fight, the Ivorian emerged the winner with a 12-8 score over Brazilian Milena Titoneli to conserve her status as number three in world women Taekwondo.
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil, Gbagbi defeated Farida Azizoua of Azerbaijan 7-1 to win bronze – her first Olympic medal.
It is also Ivory Coast’s first medal at the Games so far. Taekwondo Olympic champion, Cheick Cissé, who carried the hopes and expectations of the nation, was knocked out in the first round.
Ivory Coast has two Taekwondo representatives still in competition as well as three sprinters and the male football team, who defeated Saudi Arabia in their first match and drew goalless in their second game with defending champions, Brazil.
