Xian Dongmei of China celebrates after defeating An Kum Ae of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during the women -52 kg final of judo at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Xian Dongmei gained the gold medal of the event.(Xinhua Photo)
BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Xian Dongmei won China's first judo gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Sunday, stunning Kum Ae An from DPR Korea in the 52kg class final.
Xian flipped Kum Ae An with a yuko and a penalty koka.
After giving birth to her daughter 18 months ago, the 33-year-old Chinese judo veteran gave three ippon games in the women's light-weight competition, which added the fifth gold medal to China at the Games.
"I really want to thank my husband who has given many support to my coming back to judo after marriage and giving birth to our daughter," said Xian, "I am very happy to win the Olympic champion again, especially in Beijing."
After a bye in her first bout, Xian had a perfect start in which she ipponed Spanish Ana Carrascosa by directly pushing the opponent to the mat with just 1 minute and 19 seconds, sharing her symbolic smile with 5,000 cheering spectators in the gymnasium.
"One of the reason for my return is that the Olympic Games will be held in my own country for the first time, that really motivated me," said Xian who has taken on her judogi once again since May 2007 when summoned by the national team.
"I have experienced very tough time after coming back for restore my ability," said Xian, who has been the first Chinese judoka who managed to win gold medals in two consecutive Olympic Games and also the first ever mama Olympic champion in China.
Xian, who had received two-year training for Chinese wrestling before she turned to judo at 15, told that she had used a special technique learned from wrestling to defeat her opponents in the competition, saying that the most thing she want to do after the match is to have a good rest.
Meeting world champion silver medalist Telma Monteiro of Portugal in the next, Xian conceded an early yuko but rallied to tie waves of attacks. Leading another koka advantage with 45 seconds left in the five-minute bout, she shoulder threw the Portuguese to the mat with a decision of waza-ari by the referee who soon rectified to gesture an ippon victory.
At the semifinal, Xian jumped on Soraya Haddad, world broze medalist in 2005, and again shoulder throwed the opponent to win another ippon.
Soraya Haddad from Algeria oustered Sholpan Kaliyeva from Kazakhstan with a waza-ari to grab a bronze medal.
"I am so happy today because my bronze medal will encourage the judokas in my country," said Haddad who has won the first ever judo medal for Algeria and all of Africa at Olympic Games.
Japan's 19-year-old Nakamura, gave a koka loss to Kum Ae An at semifinal, made a struggling way to the final after a gold-score game and later ipponed South Korean Kyung Ok Kim for another bronze medal of the star-studded Japanese judo squad.
"I feel disappointed because I could not win the gold medal, It's all the same if it's not a gold medal but I feel disappointed more than I feel happy." the new star in the 52kg of Japan said.
The silver medalist Kum Ae An has not been reachable for a comment since she did not finish the doping test till the press conference's end.
Xian Dongmei of China displays her gold medal on the podium after defeating An Kum Ae of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during the women-52 kg final of judo at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)
Xian Dongmei of China is lifted by her coach after she defeats An Kum Ae of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea during the women -52 kg final of judo at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008. Xian Dongmei gained the gold medal of the event.(Xinhua Photo)
