Krista Dyer is one victory away from standing on the podium at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.

The Sanda kickboxer is poised to trade blows with Egypt’s Menaalla Aly in the women’s 70kg division bronze-medal match, and is heading into the bout determined to put her best foot forward and do the island and herself proud.

“I am looking forward to my bronze-medal match where hopefully I can be a bit more level headed,” Dyer told The Royal Gazette.

The two-times Pan American women’s 65kg champion received a bye in the first round and was eliminated from gold-medal contention after losing to Iranian Yasaman Seyedah Bagherzadehva in her semi-final bout at the Chengdu Hi-Tech Zone Sports Centre Gymnasium.

“I know there’s a lot of opportunities that I missed and let slide. But hopefully it’s a learning opportunity, so when I come across those opportunities in the future I can capitalise and gain more points,” Dyer said.

Head coach and Bermuda Sanshou Association president Garon Wilkinson was pleased with the athlete’s performance on the mat despite coming out on the losing end of the contest.

“I was really pleased with Krista’s performance in that she was able to execute our game plan,” he said.

“We recognised that Iran [Bagherzadehva] was really good off her lead leg kicks, so we came up with a game plan to try and nullify the kicks.

“At the end of the day, Iran is just a better athlete at the moment. But in terms of the way Krista competed, I am really pleased. She showed that we belong here — and that’s why we are here.”

Dyer, who has managed to hold her own despite being at a disadvantage competing against heavier opponents, has her work once again cut out in the bronze-medal match.

“Egypt [Aly] is also going to be a very difficult match. She is a very experienced, solid fighter and a much larger opponent,” Wilkinson said.

“But considering Krista is fighting against heavier opponents, I am very pleased and looking forward to an even better performance in the bronze-medal match.”

Dyer, 37, has already savoured success competing on the international scene this year, having claimed the silver medal the women’s 65kg division on her debut at the Sanda World Cup in Jiangyin, China in April.