‘Confused’ Junna Tsukii airs disappointment with gold medal match loss

PHNOM PENH — Filipina-Japanese karate ace Junna Tsukii didn't hold back her emotions and disappointment after she fell short of a gold medal finish in the 32nd SEA Games here.

Tsukii believed that she was performing well, even sending her Malaysian opponent Shahmalarani Chandran to the floor at least once in their championship match on Saturday.

But when their fates were put in the hands of the judges, Tsukii and Chandran each secured two votes, before the referee gave her vote to the Malaysian bet.

Tsukii was seen leaving the stage immediately after the traditional bows to air her frustration. According to the 31-year-old karateka, she was not happy with the result, even saying she was confused as to how the game turned out.

“I'm 100-percent sure that I was more active than her but they chose her so I don't know what happened to this judge,” Tsukii said.

“That's why I'm not happy even with my medal. I knocked [her] down, she pulled down, she stepped back when I pressed but they gave her [the win] so I don't know. I cannot understand why they gave her the point.”

“So I'm confused.”

Here’s Tsukii’s thoughts on the gold medal match @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/Zd1sAeD4oK

— Bea Micaller (@beamicallerrr) May 6, 2023

This is not the first time that Tsukii and Chandran had met on the mat as the former beat the latter just last month in a competition.

But even though she’s frustrated with the result, Tsukii said they cannot file for a protest as the rules state judgements from officials and referees cannot be challenged.

“We cannot protest,” she added.

“Our karate rules, we cannot protest about the judge. If they had mistake with the time or some things, we can. But about the judgement, cannot.”

Tsukii’s silver medal was an improved result after a no podium-finish in the previous edition.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News