Kellie Harrington will box for gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games this coming Sunday as she put in a tough and gritty performance in her semi-final bout against Sudaporn Seesondee of Thailand this morning, to take the win – and a minimum silver medal – on a 3-2 split decision.
A tactical bout from the opening second, Harrington and Seesondee were neck-in-neck throughout, with the Dubliner taking a 3-2 edge in each of the opening two rounds, leaving a big closing round. Patience was key for Harrington though, and it paid off in the third, as she kept her composure against the tricky south paw, to maintain her 3-2 lead and take the win. Kellie has now secured a minimum of an Olympic silver medal, and will box for gold this coming Sunday in the Women’s Light (57-60kg) Olympic final.
“Close fight. I knew it was going to be a chess match,” Harrington said afterwards. “I fought her in 2018 in the World Final. It was tricky then, it was a chess match then, and it was a chess match today. She didn’t want to give anything, I didn’t want to give anything, but eventually someone had to. It was patience that was key, I kept my patience and she didn’t. And that’s what won me the fight. The coaches were in the corner telling me, ‘stay patient’ and giving me tactics to throw and it worked.”
Reflecting on how it feels to be through to an Olympic final and have a silver medal secured she continued, “It’s fantastic. Olympic silver medallist. That’s the stuff that people dream about. Many tried to get there, many don’t have what it takes to succeed because they don’t have the willpower, the determination, the focus, the dedication. I eat, sleep and breathe boxing. I’ve had heartbreak. I know what it is to fail and I know how hard it is to pick yourself back up after that. This is why I am who I am, and why I am here today – because I’m not afraid of failure. I know what it is. I’m Kellie Harrington. I’m myself and I make my own pathway.”
Kellie will face off against Beatriz Ferreira of Brazil in the Women’s Light Olympic final at 6am Irish time on Sunday.
'Regardless of the colour of the medal, to have the support of the people back home, to put a smile on the nation's face'@kelly64kg is thinking of those at home after win#tokyo2020 #RTESport #boxing
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