Chinese wrestler Li Songni delighted home spectators at the world junior wrestling championships on Thursday when she won the gold medal in the women's freestyle 59kg division.
It was the host country's first gold medal in the five-day tournament, which started Tuesday at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium. China won one medal, a silver, in the first two days.
Li, 18, defeated Tatiana Padilla of the United States in the final, 1-0, 2-0.
To the deafening cheers of about 1,000 local fans in the stands, Li won the first period with a one-point take-down and scored a two-point exposure in the second.
"I had full confidence in myself during the match, but I was too cautious when attacking. If I had wrestled more aggressively, I would have an even bigger win," said Li.
But Padilla had a different opinion. "There wasn't a lot of wrestling on her part, so when you wrestle someone and they wrestle you back, it's easier to capitalize on her mistakes," she said.
K. Dombrovska of Ukraine and Pietrzyk Agata of Poland were awarded the bronze medals.
The 2007 junior world wrestling championships, which features some 600 wrestlers from 60 countries and regions, is one of a dozen of Olympic test events that are underway in the Chinese capital.
Source: Xinhua
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