Yang Xiuli (blue) of China fights against Yalennis Castillo of Cuba during the Women 78 kg gold medal contest of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games judo event in Beijing, China, Aug. 14, 2008. Yang Xiuli won the contest and claimed the gold. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling))Chinese judoka Yang Xiuli won the women's 78kg gold by a referee's verdict after a tie in overtime at the Beijing Olympics on Thursday, adding the second judo title to China.
In the five-minute final bout, both Yang and his Cuban rival Yalennis Castillo managed a koka which led to a five-minute golden-score duel.
After a suffocating five-minute overtime, their scores were still unchanged, despite a koka was given to Castillo which was later canceled.
Then the referee and judges made a final verdict which awarded Yang in blue the winner. Judge Akiko Amano from Japan raised blue flag, judge Cathy Mouette from France raised white and the referee Franc Ocko from Slovenia raised the decisive blue.
According to judo's rule, if there is still a tie after overtime competition, a panel of three, one referee and two judges, will make a verdict based on the two players' performances.
A technical official with the competition Li Yuehua explained that the referees made the decision because Yang had made more attacks.
"We have met in previous competitions and I think she is a world-class judoka," Yang said.
"All my five opponents are very good athletes, I want to give my appreciation to them since without them I would not make progress," Yang, 24, said. "I believe the referees have made a fair verdict and I have the confidence to win throughout the duel."
"The overtime of the final didn't bother me since I used to train for playing six to eight games in a row," the Chinese judoka who was injured in eyepit today said, admitting that the injury did affect her performance.
Jeong Gyeong Mi from South Korea ipponed Brazilian Edinanci Silva to gain a bronze medal, despite that she once lost her contact lens in the competition.
"I am so happy to get a medal," Jeong said after winning South Korea's first women's judo medal in eight years. "I think our confidence is not enough... I hope Kim Nayoung could win the gold tomorrow."
Stephanie Possamai of France won the other bronze medal by defeating Spanish Esther San Miguel.
Source:Xinhua
