South Korea's Choi Min-ho reacts after winning a gold medal over Ludwig Paischer of Austria in the men's 60-kilogram division at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium at the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, Saturday. / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reports
It was only seven minutes and 20 seconds in total that South Korean judoka Choi Min-ho needed in claiming a gold medal in the men's 60-kilogram class at the Beijing Olympics.
In the final match at the Beijing Science and Technology University Gymnasium Saturday, Choi, who will turn 28 on Aug. 18, faced world No. 1 Ludwig Paischer of Austria and threw him to the ground in two minutes and 14 seconds to give South Korea the first gold of the Summer Games.
En route to the final bout, Choi beat all of his four opponents by ippon.
Securing the gold, he became the champion in the category for the first time since Kim Jae-yeop won at the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
After nailing down the first finish, Choi broke into tears of joy for a while.
He won bronze medals at the Busan Asian Games in 2002 and the Athens Olympics in 2004.
On the first day of the Summer Games, held at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall, Jin, 28, scored 684.5 points in the final round to rank second as China's Pang Wei, who compiled 688.2, gave the host its second gold.
The South Korean marksman also finished second in the men's 50-meter pistol event at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
North Korea's Kim Jong-su came in third with 683 in totals, meaning the first bronze medal for North Korea.
Earlier, South Korean shooter Jin Jong-oh brought home its first medal of the Beijing Olympics by winning a silver medal in the men's 10-meter air pistol Saturday.
South Korean swimmer Park Tae-whan will challenge a gold medal Sunday by passing Saturday's 400-meter freestyle preliminary.
South Korea's female handball team fought to a 29-29 draw with Russia in its first game.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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'600만명 학살 지휘' 잔인한 인물의 뒷얘기 공개
