GB medal hopefuls Eccles & Giles suffer heartbreak
Confusion for Rosie Eccles
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British medal hopefuls Rosie Eccles and Chelsie Giles suffered shock early defeats on the second day of the Paris Olympics.
Boxer Eccles lost to Polandâs Aneta Rygielska in the womenâs 66kg boxing on a controversial split decision that drew some boos in the arena.
âI knew Iâd won the fight. Iâm really, really shocked,â a tearful Eccles said afterwards.
âIâve given my whole life for a gold medal in the Olympics, or at least an Olympic medal to take home. I really would have been proud of that.â
That came shortly after judoka Giles, the -52kg bronze medallist in Tokyo three years ago, was left visibly devastated after a second-round defeat.
Giles lost in the Golden Score round â where the first score decides the result â to Brazilâs Larissa Pimenta.
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Published2 hours ago
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Published2 hours ago
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âA brutal outcomeâ â Eccles and crowd shocked by loss
Rosie Eccles (left) won light-middleweight gold for Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games
Welshwoman Eccles appeared bewildered when it was announced she had lost 3-2 on points.
The 28-year-old narrowly won the first round, was edged out in the second, and then lost the final round despite her opponent being docked a point for failing to keep her head up.
Only one of the five judges had Rygielska ahead on the scores â two had Eccles in front, while two scored it even.
However, in those circumstances, judges who give level scores then vote for who they think won, and both decided in favour of the Pole.
BBC boxing commentator Steve Bunce, who called the bout live, said he was âshocked and stunnedâ.
âThat was a brutal outcome. I really did think sheâd [Rosie Eccles] get it,â he said.
âWeâve got independent judges here. They went with the one who got deducted a point and she actually fouled.
âThe two judges who had it even voted for the woman who had an infringement. Iâm really annoyed. Itâs a bad decision.â
âIt can be done in a secondâ â Giles
Heartbroken Giles speaks to BBC
Three years ago, Giles was Britainâs first medallist of the Tokyo Games, but it is a different story this time around.
The fifth seed had been bidding to become the first Briton to win a judo gold, having won European gold and world silver in the past two years.
She was given a first-round bye but picked up two penalties against Pimenta for non combativity, before losing in the Golden Score.
âYou put in a lot of work and it can be done in a second â thatâs how judo works, you only get one chance,â the tearful 27-year-old told BBC TV afterwards.
âI thought I was getting a bit better in the fight and I just got caught, so there is not much I can do.â
Britain still have four judokas in Paris, with Lele Nairne competing in the womenâs -57kg on Monday.
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