Papua New Guinea’s female taekwondo fighter, Samantha Kassman, was honoured to compete among the world’s best at the recent Rio Olympics.
Despite the defeat, Kassman felt honoured to take the ring against a world number 1 and she is proud to have donned the PNG colours at the biggest sporting event.
Kassman went down to her British number 3 ranked and 2015 Taekwondo World Champion opponent, Bianca Walkden, 14-1 in the +67kg category fight.
Kassman said: “Going into the fight, I knew it was going to be challenging and a hard task but I wasn't nervous nor intimidated.
“I stuck to it and fought all three bouts and I wouldn't have wanted the draw any other way,” Kassman told Loop PNG.
Kassman added that being among the greatest fellow athletes, managers, coaches and teams has inspired her to work towards the 2020 Japan Olympics.
Team PNG is expected to return to the country in the next few days.