I was really moved when Hong Kong won, says Rex Tso after reaching Olympic qualifying quarter-finals
- The 32-year-old ‘Wonder Kid’ is pleased to have cleared his first hurdle in the qualifiers for Tokyo
- Former professional thanks Hong Kong fans for their support on social media
Hong Kong boxer Rex Tso Sing-yu said he was “really moved” after reaching the quarter-finals of the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Amman, Jordan. And he thanked fans on social media for lifting his spirits and giving him the strength to carry on.
The former unbeaten professional, who reverted to amateur status more than two years ago, had his first taste of Olympic competition, and he couldn’t be happier with the experience, defeating Tajikistan’s Bakhtovar Sagizov to advance to the last eight of the featherweight (57kg) competition held at the Prince Hamzah Hall.
The 32-year-old must stay sharp if he is to reach the semi-finals, which would be good enough to seal his place for Tokyo, but he has a tough task against world featherweight champion Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov, who is the No 1 seed in Amman. The bout is scheduled for early Tuesday morning, with a start time around 2am, depending on how fast the other bouts are completed. Tso’s bout is ninth on the card.
“After the first round, I heard that I won points and I was getting excited but I had to remain calm. I had to wait for the judges’ decision and when I heard that Hong Kong won, I was really moved. I was so touched. It was really a joyful moment for me that Hong Kong won,” said Tso, who received a first-round bye in the competition.
Although Tso fought in front of a near empty stadium, Hong Kong’s finest boxer received support from the Taiwan camp, who cheered him on and he got a lift from all his fans in Hong Kong, many of whom watched his fight live on the Olympic channel.
