22-year-old Pihla Kaivo-oja reached the Olympic spot after winning her semi-final of the qualifying tournament in Bangkok. Kaivo-oja becomes the second Finnish female boxer at the Olympics.
Kamilla Rajander,
STT Sports
17:44•Updated 21:24
Pilha in the Kaivo ditch there was reason to rejoice on Sunday, as the 22-year-old boxed himself into the Paris Olympics. With this achievement, Kaivo-oja becomes the second Finnish female boxer in history at the Olympic level. Before her, only Finnish women have been seen in the Olympic ring Mira Potkonen.
The Olympic place was secured when the Finn competing in the 50 kg category won his semi-final in the qualifying tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday. Match Nigeria Zainab Adeshina against ended with the judge’s vote 4–1.
Kaivo-oja said that he stuck to his match plan on Sunday. He received a warning in the match, but still celebrated the victory.
– I left everything there. We had gone through good tactics with the coach, and he gave good instructions in the middle of the match. I was able to implement them, Kaivo-oja characterized.
He also goes to Paris to win every competition.
– You don’t go there just to wonder. It is good to continue preparing for this, he said.
Despite her young age, Kaivo-oja already won the fourth consecutive women’s Finnish championship in December. In addition, the left-handed player has achieved, among other things, silver and bronze at the under-22 European Championship during his career.
Kaivo-oja, who represents the Tampere Gymnastics Club, has a background in team gymnastics, but at the age of 14 he changed sports due to an injury. Before the Bangkok qualifying tournament, the boxer said in an interview with Urheilu that a background in gymnastics is also useful in boxing, for example in terms of body control and rhythm.
He is being coached Maarit Teuronenwho has previously coached, among others, Mira Potko, who has already finished her career.
– Yes, Maarit knows what it takes to get to the Olympic rings and that she can still get results there, Kaivo-oja said before the Bangkok tournament.
Vilma Viitanen was disappointed
At 22 years old With Vilma Viitasen on Sunday, there was a chance for Finland to reach the second place in the Olympic boxing ring. Competing in the 60 kg class, however, Viitanen’s Olympic dream came to naught when he lost to Vietnam in the qualifying match Thi Linh Halle reading 1–4.
In the two previous Summer Olympics, Finland has achieved boxing success, when Mira Potkonen returned to Finland with a bronze medal from both Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
The Summer Olympics will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11.