RIO DE JANEIRO - An Iraqi soldier who was the sole representative for his war-ravaged country at the Rio Olympic boxing was left disappointed but proud after falling at the first hurdle on Tuesday.
Waheed Abdulridha receives a punch from Mexico's Misael Uziel Rodriguez in the Rio boxing tournament on August 9, 2016
Waheed Abdulridha, who was Iraq's flag-bearer at Friday's opening ceremony, started strongly but faded and eventually lost to Mexico's Uziel Rodriguez on unanimous points in their middleweight clash.
The 33-year-old put his hands on his head and paced the ring in disbelief and said afterwards that he felt he had done enough to win.
Nevertheless, the Baghdad-based boxer, who is also a soldier, said he felt immense pride in fighting for Iraq on the biggest stage.
"I controlled the fight and I don't know how he won actually," he said. "I don't know how I lost."
Abdulridha, who started boxing in 1989, trains in the Iraqi capital.
"Boxing is a fight, just like terrorism is a fight. I only want peace for my country," he said.