TAEKWONDO: A slow start to the opening round has come back to haunt Australian Jack Marton in the 80kg class in the Taekwondo competition.
Marton was defeated 11 points to 1 by 4th seeded Egyptian Seif Eissa, but trailed by 11 points to nil at the end of the first of three rounds.
While the Australian battled strongly in the remaining rounds, the points gap meant the more fancied Egyptian could avoid anything thrown at him by the tenacious Australian making his Olympic debut.
“The first round was the whole fight in a nutshell, really,” Marton said.
“We split the fight after that but its just so hard to come back after a slow start."
And while shattered that he could not advance, Marton will look back with great fondness of his first Olympic experience.
“I’m really proud to wear the green and gold, it is just so special.
It’s been a long journey just to get hear and I’m so happy that I was able to do it,” he said.
The taekwondo competition concludes on Tuesday with Reba Stewart representing Australia in the 67kg category.
Damian Kelly
