Seabata Mahao
Lesotho’s taekwondo star, Michelle Tau, faced disappointment at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, falling short of her medal aspirations after a competitive performance.
Competing in the women’s -49kg category, Tau was defeated 2-0 by Iran’s Nematzadeh Mobina in the round of 16, failing to advance to the quarterfinals. Despite her efforts, Tau struggled to defend against Mobina’s taller stature and precise kicks, leading to a scoreless first round and a 2-0 deficit in the second.
After the match, there was a brief chance for Tau to vie for a bronze medal through the repechage round, which allows athletes beaten by eventual finalists to compete again. However, Mobina’s loss in the semifinals dashed Tau’s hopes of continuing in the competition.
“According to Olympic Taekwondo Rules, athletes that are knocked out by eventual finalists have a second chance in the repechage contest. This meant that if the Iranian, Nematzadeh Mobina had won her semi-final match, Tau would get a reprieve to fight again,” the Lesotho National Olympics Committee (LNOC) had said in a statement.
The LNOC confirmed that Tau, making her Olympic debut at age 27, will now shift her focus to the next opportunity at the 2028 Olympic Games scheduled for July 14-30 in Los Angeles, USA.
