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History made on the first day of taekwondo at Doha
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-12-08 10:01

History was made on the first day of taekwondo competitions when Wu Jingyu clinched China's first Asian Games gold medal in the sport and Jordan won its first Asiad gold medal in any event after Mohammad Al Bakhit claimed the men's 54kg gold here on Thursday.

In women's 47kg division, Wu beat Yang Shu Chun from Chinese Taipei 2-1 in the final.

Since the event made its debut in the 1998 Asiad, China has experienced an eight-year gold medal drought before Wu's victory.

In the men's 54kg division, Mohammad Al Bakhit claimed the gold medal by beating Vasavat Somswang of Thailand 1-0.

Jordan had previously won 15 Asian Games medals without a gold. With Al Bakhit's victory, taekwondo has supplied Jordan with 15 out of its 16 Asian Games medals.

Yaowapa Boorapolchai of Thailand and Kathleen Eunice Alora of Philippines took the bronze medals in the women's 47kg.

"All the athletes are at the same level. It's tough and difficult, but I am happy that I won the gold," Wu said after the competition.

"I feel very honored and excited for bringing China the first gold in this event," she added.

Renat Kuralbayev of Kazakhstan and Rahim A. Hameed Ebrahim A of Bahrain took the bronze medals after they lost to Somswang and Al Bakhit respectively in the semifinals.

"I have never imagined I was the one to change the history. It is a great honor for me and I still feel dizzy because of the excitement," Al Bakhit said.

Lee Young Yeoul of South Korea won the gold medal in the men's 72kg division final as he beat Wang Hao of China 7-0 in the final here on Thursday.

With 24 seconds left in the first round and with the score at 2- 1 in Lee's favour, Wang received a penalty for a low kick which downed his opponent immediately. In the last seconds, he received another warning for holding. The first round ended with Lee in a commanding 3-0 position.

In the last two sets, the 26-year-old Wang could not stop Lee's attacks and Lee, 21, took the score quickly in a succession to 6-0, then 7-0.

Nesar Ahmad Bahave of Afghanistan and Hadi Sae Bonehkohal of Iran took the bronze medals.

"I want to win a grand slam and I want to win at the world championships and at the Olympics as well. I think I am on the right track by winning this gold medal," Lee said.

"I was too eager to win today and missed a lot of chances. It was my last Asian Games and I will consider retirement after the Asiad," Wang said.

Later in the women's 63kg division, Su Liwen of Chinese Taipei beat Chonnapas Premwaew of Thaildn 1-0 to take the gold.