Female -57kg Semifinal: Iran vs. Philippines I 22nd Asian Taekwondo Championships

Summary

In the semifinals of the 22nd Asian Taekwondo Championship, Pauline Louise Lopez of the Philippines faced off against Masa Jedy of Iran in a thrilling women’s featherweight contest. The match saw Jedy take an early lead, utilizing her strong left leg technique. However, Lopez rallied in the second round with strategic punches and an advantage from Jedy’s infractions. In a tense third round, Lopez scored crucial points and maintained her lead, ultimately securing a 7-5 victory. This win earned Lopez a spot in the gold medal match, marking a proud moment for the Philippines in the competition.

Takeaways

• 😀 The semifinals of the 22nd Asian Taekwondo Championship featured a high-stakes match between Pauline Louise Lopez (Philippines) and Masa Jedy (Iran) in the Women's Featherweight category.
• 😀 Pauline Lopez, a home crowd favorite, is a gold medalist from the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and a finalist in this event, aiming for a spot in the gold medal match.
• 😀 Masa Jedy, representing Iran, is a gold medalist from the 2015 Asian Taekwondo Championship and a silver medalist from the 2014 World Olympic Qualifiers, bringing significant experience to the semifinal.
• 😀 The crowd in the Philippines is heavily supporting Lopez, who has a strong chance to make history as the first Filipino woman to reach a gold medal match in this category.
• 😀 The match was highly competitive, with both fighters demonstrating skillful techniques, especially Jedy’s effective left leg kicks and Lopez's counterattacks.
• 😀 In the first round, Jedy led by one point, with Lopez struggling to score due to Jedy's defensive and precise attacks.
• 😀 Lopez made a strong comeback in the second round, scoring two punches and benefiting from two warnings against Jedy for holding, which gave Lopez a 3-1 lead.
• 😀 The third round saw Lopez's confidence grow as she extended her lead with a combination of punches, despite Jedy's efforts to close the gap.
• 😀 A key moment in the match involved a video replay review, which upheld Lopez's 7-3 lead, giving her a four-point advantage with only 1 minute and 27 seconds left in the third round.
• 😀 Lopez clinched the victory with a final score of 7-5, securing her place in the gold medal match and making it a historic win for the Philippines in the women's category at the Asian Taekwondo Championships.

Q & A

Who are the two athletes competing in the semifinals of the women's featherweight category?

The two athletes competing are Pauline Louise Lopez from the Philippines and Masa Jeddi from Iran.

What is the significance of the semifinal match for Pauline Louise Lopez?

This match is crucial for Pauline Louise Lopez as it is her chance to advance to the gold medal match, with the pressure of representing the Philippines in a home crowd event.

What previous accomplishments does Masa Jeddi have in Taekwondo competitions?

Masa Jeddi is a gold medalist in the 2015 Asian Taekwondo Championship for Youth and a silver medalist in the 2014 World Olympic qualifiers.

What was the crowd's reaction to Pauline Louise Lopez during the match?

The Filipino fans were very supportive, with the crowd cheering and being on their feet, hoping for Lopez to secure a victory.

How did Lopez perform in her previous matches before the semifinals?

Pauline Louise Lopez defeated SP in the quarterfinals and also defeated Alisa Rosan from Malaysia to reach the semifinals.

What strategies were discussed for the featherweight category in the match?

The featherweight category was described as tough, with many good and tall players. The key strategies involved quick and accurate kicks, particularly targeting the head and body, as well as maintaining distance and patience.

What was Masa Jeddi's approach during the first round?

In the first round, Masa Jeddi used her left leg effectively, trying to land high kicks and keeping a patient and calculated approach to score points.

How did Pauline Louise Lopez adjust her strategy after the first round?

Lopez became more aggressive in the second round, scoring points with punches and capitalizing on warnings given to Masa Jeddi for holding, which helped her take a 3-1 lead.

How did the referees impact the outcome of the match?

The referees played a significant role in the match, including a video review to decide if a point should be awarded to Lopez after some contentious calls. Their decisions, including warnings for holding, influenced the scoreline.

What were the final moments of the match like for Lopez?

In the final seconds of the third round, Lopez secured key points with a jump kick and punch, increasing her lead. Despite Masa Jeddi's attempts to counter, Lopez held onto the lead and advanced to the gold medal round, winning 7-5.