Tokyo Olympics: Bradly Sinden takes silver for Great Britain after defeat in taekwondo final

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Tokyo Olympic Games on the BBC
Dates: 23 July-8 August Time in Tokyo: BST +8
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Bradly Sinden secured silver for Great Britain after defeat by Uzbekistan's Ulugbek Rashitov in the taekwondo -68kg final.

The 2019 world champion, 22, was bidding to become Britain's first male Olympic taekwondo champion but was beaten 34-29. He wins Britain's first silver medal of the Tokyo Games.

Trailing 18-14 going into the final round, Sinden fought back in a see-saw finale to take a 28-26 lead going into the final seconds.

However, Rashitov responded immediately to edge back in front and a strong trunk kick with six seconds remaining sealed a dramatic victory.

"It was my gold medal to give away - obviously he is a good fighter, I just made a few mistakes," said Sinden. "I think I got unlucky with a few things as well but that is taekwondo.

"I thought he was on the back foot. You have to commend him for what he did - a few mistakes from me, well done to him. You'll see me again in Paris."

Despite his disappointment at losing the final, Sinden can reflect on a fine Olympics debut that continues his rapid rise in the sport.

The Doncaster-born fighter won his first major senior medal at the 2017 World Championships aged just 18. Two years later, he became the first British man to win a taekwondo world title.

In Tokyo, he powered into the semi-final with a 20-point win against Tukey's Hakan Recber before coming from behind to beat Zhao Shuai of China 33-25 to guarantee a himself a medal.

"We were here to get gold - anything else is not what we're here to celebrate. Maybe eventually I will get over it," added Sinden. "But for now it has got me that I didn't win gold when I think it was there for me to take. I will take that and improve on it."

Team GB's first medal was won earlier on Sunday, with Chelsie Giles securing bronze in the women's -52kg judo.

However, there was disappointment for two-time Olympic taekwondo champion Jade Jones, who suffered a 16-12 defeat by Kimia Alizadeh of the Refugee Olympic Team.

Bradly Sinden being hugged by his trainer
Bradly Sinden had to be consoled by his trainer at the end of the fight

More to follow.

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83 comments

  • Comment posted by jude nelson, today at 15:54

    The Uzbek lad was immense all competition. Great final that really could have gone either way. I wouldn’t be too down with the silver.

  • Comment posted by JIM, today at 15:54

    Are you sure BBC? Secured silver did he? He was guaranteed silver when he won his semi-final, he's by his own admission lost the gold here. Silver is still a fantastic achievement but call it for what it is.

  • Comment posted by PeteG, today at 15:43

    I watched the fight it was so close. Commiserations to Bradley. Great effort.

    I'm possibly alone in thinking this but I can't get excited that he "won" silver - he lost. It's exactly the same as when England lost to Italy in the Euros. I wasn't bouncing around the room cheering that we'd won second place.

    • Reply posted by Kinglouie, today at 15:53

      Kinglouie replied:
      He is only 22 and a future gold winner no doubt. In my opinion he should hag got the gold, a few poor decisions made the difference. Unfortunately it is against the rules for competitors, or anyone related to them, to say what they really think. I could also be wrong about my opinion, I just like the guy.

  • Comment posted by Ray Purchase, today at 15:42

    Is it too much to ask the BBC to stop piling pressure on individual athletes like Jade Jones ?

  • Comment posted by FastFourierTransform, today at 15:41

    Apart from spelling can someone please enlighten me about the difference between the Olympic Games and the World Athletic Championships?

    Running as fast as possible in straight line in two wholly different venues at astronomic cost to the local population must mean some difference when trying to justify the saturation TV coverage for one yet hardly anything for the other.

    • Reply posted by Pedro321, today at 15:45

      Pedro321 replied:
      The Olympics generally generates a profit these days so your comment re the cost to the local population is incorrect. Qualification to take part in the two events is different also so they are not the same.

  • Comment posted by Markleseagull, today at 15:39

    He won it for himself NOT for GB.

    • Reply posted by oak tree, today at 15:51

      oak tree replied:
      Prove it

  • Comment posted by Thersites, today at 15:39

    Why can the commentators only count medals? This approach is debasing the Olympics. The time to look at the medals table is at the end of the last day - not before.

    Sinden fought skilfully and well and he can be proud of himself as we can be proud of his achievement. Olympic silver medal - well done!

    • Reply posted by SLR, today at 15:42

      SLR replied:
      Here, here! I just think that the country table should be abolished. The game should be about individuals and looking to think of achievement as important to the whole world, not one nation.

  • Comment posted by Isenbird Braines Mucking Fuddle, today at 15:37

    So far I've avoided watching more than 5 seconds of Olympics - whenever News channel goes "over to Tokyo" I channel hop - not yet an Olympic Event. Call me a mean spirited old Isenbird but it feels wrong - the Japanese population oppose it 80:20 due to Covid fears - apart from which the Planet is either on fire or drowning - so I am boycotting.

  • Comment posted by Ayton, today at 15:37

    There are many ways to fight and swim , is arm wrestling in this or shove ha'penny ?

  • Comment posted by Barley, today at 15:33

    Go go go Team GB

  • Comment posted by SLR, today at 15:32

    To be defeated by an Uzbek is no mean feat. We are taught little about Uzbekistan in this country, they are descended from some of the fiercest warriors of the middle ages, conquerers and mainstay as cavalry for many South Asian armies through the ages. Take a bow Sinden.

  • Comment posted by oak tree, today at 15:32

    Good on you bradly sinden

  • Comment posted by respect the 52 , today at 15:30

    Olympics huge waste of Money and resources and for what ?

    • Reply posted by SLR, today at 15:36

      SLR replied:
      For respect of more than 52 people.

  • Comment posted by oak tree, today at 15:23

    Well done Giles

  • Comment posted by You, today at 15:23

    Listen to this rubbish, as if the British athlete was the only one to suffer under covid conditions. The fighter she was up against represented the Refugee Olympic Team so the Brit media whining about first world problems when there's literally refugees from wars who have lost everything and they've had to deal with covid on top of it.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/olympics/57961788

    • Reply posted by Shears, today at 15:31

      Shears replied:
      Iran hasn't been involved in a war for quite a long time....

  • Comment posted by BRAVEHEART, today at 15:23

    It has been predicted that GB will finish 6th in the medal table ?
    Im thinking we may struggle to be in the top 10.

    Hope i am wrong, maybe "The Kennys" will add to our tally.

    Japan has to host The Covid Olympics , so i hope they do really well, i always cheer on team GB, but i am also cheering on any Japan medals !!!

    • Reply posted by eudaemon, today at 15:46

      eudaemon replied:
      These Olympics will be a huge disappointment for Team GB compared to the London and Rio Olympics, in respect of the number of gold medals they are likely to win. I cannot see Team GB winning more than 6 gold in Tokyo.

  • Comment posted by a_b_manyowa, today at 15:18

    Well done Bradly Sinden! Unless he's a Man U 'fan'.

    • Reply posted by You, today at 15:24

      You replied:
      If he was a Man U fan he'd have 'won' bronze.

  • Comment posted by Freeman, today at 15:18

    Hold your head up. Silver medal on your debut is something to be proud of.

  • Comment posted by Ayton, today at 15:17

    Great news, when does the running and jumping start ?

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