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China's Wu wins first gold of taekwondo worlds

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-05-18 23:44

CHANGPING -- Wu Jingyu won the first gold medal, also the first for China, at the 18th Taekwondo World Championships after beating Thailand's Yaowapa Boorapolchai 5-0 in the women's 47kg here on Friday.

South Korea's Jung Jin Hee defeated Tseng Yi-Hsuan from Chinese Taipei 6-4 for the women's under-55kg gold medal, while Cuban Gessler Abreu came back for a 6-5 victory over Iranian Omid Asl in the men's under-67kg final.

A total of 16 gold medals are on offer in the five-day competitions with South Korea and China the favorites.

Wu led 3-0 in the first round and 5-0 in the second before Boorapolchai called for the end of the match.

"All I knew was that I'm in China, and I must win here," said Wu, who took the revenge of her twice loss to Boorapolchai in previous meetings.

Trailing 3-2 in the first round, Abreu tied the bout 5-5 after three rounds. Abreu scored first on the counter strike in the sudden-death extra time duel for a final victory.

In the women's flyweight, South Korean Jung dominated the final from the beginning and never let loose with constant attacks to secure the trophy.