Kimia Alizadeh Secures Bulgaria’s First-Ever Olympic Medal in Taekwondo!

Kimia Alizadeh made history by winning Bulgaria's first-ever Olympic medal in taekwondo, securing a bronze in the 57 kg category. The Iranian-born athlete, who now holds a Bulgarian passport, achieved this milestone with a victory over world No. 1 Luo Zongshi of China.

Alizadeh triumphed with a 2-1 victory in rounds against one of the world's most decorated competitors. The first round saw both athletes proceed cautiously, ending with no points scored. However, the 26-year-old Bulgarian was awarded the round by a 2-1 judges' decision.

In the second round, the Chinese athlete came out more aggressively, securing a 1-point lead. A protest from the Chinese side resulted in an additional three points being awarded to her, allowing her to take the round with a 4-0 score.

The decisive third round began strongly for Alizadeh, who landed a head kick to gain a 3-0 advantage. The Chinese competitor quickly responded, equalizing the score at 3-3. Alizadeh then delivered another head kick, taking a 6-3 lead. Although her opponent managed to close the gap with two more points, the round ended 6-5 in favor of the Bulgarian. A protest from the Chinese team was lodged, but after reviewing the video, the score remained unchanged.

Earlier, representing Bulgaria, Alizadeh began her Olympic journey by defeating Tunisia's Chaima Toumi 2-0, placing her on the brink of securing a medal at the Paris Games.

Alizadeh took an early lead in her match against Toumi, landing a head strike that earned her three points. Despite being pushed out of the fighting zone twice before the end of the first round, she managed to maintain her advantage.