Cambodia’s Rio Olympics qualifier Sorn Seavmey has drawn an accomplished fighter from the Netherlands, Reshmie Oogink, in the opening bout of the 16-strong +67kg category in the women’s taekwondo.
Seavmey’s highly anticipated Olympic debut will be at the Carioca Arena on Saturday, August 20.
Her bout against Oogink, ranked 75th in the world with 532 points, will be at 9am in Rio de Janeiro, which means a 7pm start on Saturday evening, Cambodian time.
“Before leaving for Rio, we were under the impression that Seavmey would meet Gwladys Epangue of France, but upon arrival we have been informed that she will take on Reshimie Oogink,” president of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia Thong Khon said in a statement yesterday.
“Oogink is a very experienced and tough fighter. We hope Seavmey can hold her own against an opponent who is seven years older than her,’’ NOCC secretary-general Vath Chamroeun told the Post.
The 27-year-old Oogink, who has been taking part in taekwondo as a senior since 2007, has a winning percentage of 62.4 having won 77 out of her 120 fights.
In comparison, Seavmey, who won Cambodia’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in Incheon two years ago, has just eight wins to her name from 12 bouts for a 66 per cent success rate.
The Dutch fighter’s illustrious career is well reflected in the 646 hit points she has accumulated while collecting 478 during her bouts. Seavmey’s ratio stands at 94-73 for an international ranking of 1,175, with 125 points.
“Oogink is a much higher ranked and more experienced fighter. Seavmey will have to bring her best. It is a tough fight,” said Seavmey’s long-time South Korean coach Choi Yong Sok.
While Oogink won her Rio qualification in the European tournament in Istanbul, finishing second, Seavmey became the first Cambodian athlete to do so at the Asian event in Manila, in which she took gold.
Oogink this year also won gold in the -73 category in the WTF President’s Cup, a competition that brings together Europe’s top taekwondokas.
