China´s Wu Jingyu wins women´s 49kg taekwondo gold

Source: Xinhua | 08-20-2008 20:43

BEIJING, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's Wu Jingyu claimed title in the women's 49kg category taekwondo event on Wednesday, beating Thai Buttree Puedpong 1- (-1).

Wu Jingyu (blue)

With the deafening cheerings from home fans, Wu launched aggressive attacks as soon as the final began and scored one point with a side kick and made the opponent get a warning penalty.

She took the lead into round 2, and in the third round, her furious attacks made Buttree almost give up counterattacks, which lead to another warning penalty and finally an one-point reduction.

The responsive fans made countdowns in the last six seconds and roared to the newly-crowned who burst into tears.

The 21-year-old won the preliminary round and quarterfinals both with a seven-point advantage. She stepped into an intense competition with old rival Yang Shu-chun of Chinese Taipei, who beat her at the Asian championships in April.

Although Wu took a two-point lead from the beginning as she successfully loaded an axe kick on Yang's head, Yang kept making defensive kicks and managed to get one point in the second round. However, Yang failed to score more points in rest of the game and was defeated by Wu with 1-4.

With the victory against Yang, it seemed the final is not a big deal for her.

Yang lost her last opportunity to get a bronze as she lost the repechage game to Cuban Daynellis Montejo, who settled for the bronze together with Dalia Contreras Rivero of Venezuela.

According to a rule newly introduced at Beijing Olympics, losers to the finalists can play in the repechage to compete for two bronze medals.