Taekwondo fighter Hedaya Malak secures Egypt’s third bronze medal

Egypt’s Hedaya Malak won the bronze medal in the women’s Taekwondo -57kg category after beating Raheleh Asemani of Belgium by the golden kick early on Friday.

After three scoreless two-minute rounds, Malak won by a golden kick in the fourth tie, 1-0, to secure a third medal for Egypt at the Rio Olympics.

The 23-year-old had a remarkable run at Rio as she demolished Patino Marin of Colombia 13-0 in the round 16 before stunning reigning World Champion Mayo Hama of Japan by another golden kick, 3-0, in the quarter finals.

But the reigning African champion suffered a setback in the semis against Elvo Calvo of Spain – who won the silver medal at the 2015 World Championships – but had a chance to redeem herself against Asemani to claim the bronze as a consolation prize.

Malak earned Egypt its third medal at Rio after Sara Ahmed Samir won the bronze in the women’s weightlifting 69kg event and Mohamed Ihab in the men’s weightlifting 77kg.

She also became the second Egyptian woman to get on the podium at the Olympics after Sara Ahmed who beat her by just 8 days.