Tokyo Olympics: Chinese boxer Hu Jianguan fumes ‘fairness only for the hosts’ after defeat to Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka
- Rio bronze medallist Hu Jianguan deletes post claiming to be ‘sacrificial lamb’ after judges hand win to Ryomei Tanaka
- Japanese fighter now guaranteed a medal after another decision in quarter-finals against Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez, faces Carlo Paalam
Chinese boxer Hu Jianguan has claimed that “fairness is only for the hosts” and he is a “sacrificial lamb” after being defeated by Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka in their men’s flyweight round of 16 bout.
“Fairness is only for the hosts and I am nothing more than a sacrificial lamb,” Hu wrote on Weibo on Tuesday, in a since deleted post that has been widely reported in Chinese media.
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“During the Tokyo Olympic Games I overcame all kinds of injuries and difficulties in exchange for this ending!”
Hu lost a split decision 3-1, with one judge having both fighters on 19 points after two rounds. The July 31 bout was ended as Hu was bleeding from a cut.
Two judges had Hu as winner of round one, compared to three for the Japanese fighter. In the second round only one of the five judges had Hu as the winner at the Kokugikan Arena, the spiritual home of Sumo.
“My heart is unwilling to accept the result but I cannot do anything about it. Hope this kind of thing won’t happen again. Go Chinese boxing!” Hu concluded his post.
Paalam beats Olympic champion Zoirov to face Tanaka for gold spot
The Chinese boxer overcame a detached retina in 2017, an injury that doctors suggested should end his boxing career, fighting his way back to a second Olympics.
He won bronze in Rio five years ago and was aiming for another medal in Tokyo where Tanaka is now guaranteed at least bronze after another judges decision saw him get past Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez in the quarter-finals on Tuesday morning.
The home hope, whose younger brother Kosei is a former triple WBO world champion, won 4-1 on the scorecards. Tanaka will now face Philippines fighter Carlo Palaam on Thursday for a place in the gold-medal match.
Social media users have been supportive of Hu since his defeat, with the boxer taking time to respond individually to many of those posting on Weibo.
He has been busy on the Twitter-like social media site since defeat ended his run at the Olympics.
“It’s better to return to your motherland safely and smoothly!” he wrote on his return to China on Monday.
Angry Chinese netizens use Olympics to unleash anti-Japanese sentiment
On Sunday, the day after his defeat to Tanaka, Hu posted a lengthier post expressing his dissatisfaction.
Chinese social media users have taken aim at a number of Japanese athletes who have beaten their compatriots at these Olympics.
