Turkey's Tazegül scores country's first gold
LONDON - Agence France-Presse
Servet Tazegul of Turkey (BLUE) celebrates his win over Mohammad Bagheri Motamed of Iran (RED) in the men's -68kg Gold Medal Final the London 2012 Olympic Games Taekwondo competition, London, Britain, 09 August 2012. EPA/IAN LANGSDON
Servet Tazegül of Turkey added Olympic gold to his world title as he clinched the men's under-68kg category in the taekwondo competition on Thursday.In beating Iran's Mohammad Bagheri, the 23-year-old won his country's first gold medal, and only their second of any colour, of this Games.
Terrence Jennings of the United States produced a head kick in the final second to beat Diogo Silva of Brazil for bronze.
And the final medal went to Afghan Rohullah Nikpah who upset home hope Martin Stamper 5-3 to claim his second career Olympic bronze following Beijing.
Tazegül's victory over Bagheri was a repeat of the world final a year ago, and the outcome was the same: a one-point victory.
The first round was tight and cagey but the bout came alive midway through the second.
A flurry of scoring kicks saw Tazegül come out with a 5-3 lead and he held onto that despite a nervy finish in the third, triumphing 6-5.
There was one last moment of tension to overcome as Bagheri's coach made a challenge, hoping to earn his fighter an equalizing point.
He claimed Tazegül had stepped off the mat, which would have earnt him a penalty, but following a video replay it was confirmed he'd stayed inside and the gold medal was his.