Seavmey makes Cambodian history with success at Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament

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Cambodia’s Sorn Seavmey created history today after winning the women’s over 67 kilograms title at the Asian Taekwondo Olympic Qualification Tournament in the Philippines’ capital Manila.

Victory in the final against home favourite Kirstie Alora means the 2014 Asian Games gold medallist becomes the first-ever athlete from her country to triumph in an official pre-Games qualifying competition.

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia stated on its Facebook page that Seavmey will now serve as Cambodia’s flagbearer at Rio 2016.

Iran’s Akram Khodabandeh and Tajikistan’s Khalimova Mokhru were the women’s over 67kg bronze medallists.

Huai-Hsuan Huang of Chinese Taipei won the other women’s gold medal on offer today, claiming the under 49kg crown at the expense of Kazakhstan’s Ainur Yesbergenova.

Vietnam’s Thi Kim Tuyen Truong and Jordan’s Bana Daraghmi completed the podium.

China's Sen Qiao (right) won the men's over 80kg title ©Getty Images

World silver medallist Nikita Rafalovich of Uzbekistan took top honours in the men’s under 80kg, while China’s Sen Qiao secured the men’s over 80kg crown.

Rafalovich saw off the challenge of Chinese Taipei’s Wei-Ting Liu prior to Qiao overcoming Kazakhstan’s Ruslan Zhaparov.

Jordan’s Anas Aladarbi and Qatar’s Mahmoud Abdelrahim were the men’s under 80kg third-place finishers, while Pakistan’s Atief Arshad and Tajikistan’s Alisher Gulov were the men’s over 80kg bronze medallists.

Action in Manila is set to conclude tomorrow.

source http://www.insidethegames.biz/index.php/articles/1036539/seavmey-makes-cambodian-history-with-success-at-asian-taekwondo-olympic-qualification-tournament